GRODNO DISTRICT, 18 August (BelTA) – This year will be good for agriculture as far as the harvest is concerned but such results should be achieved every year. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement while on a working trip to Grodno Oblast, BelTA has learned.
The head of state was informed about progress of the harvesting campaign. Agriculture and Food Minister Igor Brylo said that about 75% of the area under crops was harvested as of the morning on 18 August. Last year's harvest of cereals has already been exceeded. “We intend to get 6.3 million tonnes today. We will have 7 million tonnes at some point on Sunday,” Igor Brylo said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko wondered whether heat had affected other crops so far. He was told that the situation is normal for now and some places even had excessive humidity.
“Let's hope that it will start raining next week but the harvesting campaign progress will be at 85-87% by Monday,” he remarked.
“At least that. We would like to have 7 million tonnes by Sunday. We will have virtually one million left. It will take 3-4 days of work at the current pace,” the agriculture and food minister confirmed.
Aleksandr Lukashenko admitted he had even seen the projected harvest figure in his sleep: “I see 8.2 million tonnes while sleeping at night. Definitely in my sleep. This figure for some reason.”
It will be a good year for agriculture, the Belarusian leader emphasized.
Aleksandr Lukashenko made some calculations to estimate how much cereals Belarus can harvest. If headed cereals produce 8.2 million tonnes, then it is necessary to add colza and corn to that. Colza harvesting is nearly finished and about 800,000 tonnes of colza grain will be produced bringing the total figure to 9 million tonnes. “And we have to produce about 1.5 million tonnes of corn,” the head of state continued the calculations.
“No, we expect we will get more – 2 million tonnes,” Igor Brylo specified.
“It will be awesome then. We will reach 11 million. This is what we have to have every year. 11 million tonnes is the first stage. After that we will make projections depending on production,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stated.
