LOGOISK DISTRICT, 25 August (BelTA) – It is essential to address the lack of discipline and efficiency in the domestic agricultural industry, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he visited Logoisk District on a working trip on 25 August, BelTA has learned.
At the Ostroshitsy farm the head of state was informed about the development prospects of the production of grain harvesters. The event was timed to the 25th anniversary of the launch of harvester production at the Belarusian Gomselmash following the president's instruction.
“This event is a symbolic one. It is meant to highlight a very important stage in the development of our state, not only of the agricultural industry. We remember the times when our people did not have enough food. You cannot live without bread, can you? We could not harvest our grain because we did not have farm machines. Back then we made landmark decisions regarding the local manufacture of grain harvesters,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
At the same time, the president mentioned certain negative moments such as the irresponsible attitude to farm machines and harvest during the harvest campaign. “We know how to do all this, but the lack of responsibility, displine and efficiency is a catastrophe. We must stop this,” the president demanded.
Over 25 years of developing grain harvesting machine building in Belarus there has been much progress. As of today, Belarusian manufacturers offer 11 models of vehicles in 75 modifications. The production of seven new models will be launched in the near future.
According to Gomselmash Director General Aleksandr Novikov, last year the enterprise produced slightly more than 1,800 self-propelled harvesters. In H1 2021 the output reached almost 1,000 vehicles. “We plan to produce 2,170 vehicles by the end of the year. We have virtually formed a package of orders till mid-2022,” he told the president.
Aleksandr Novikov informed the head of state about the development prospects of the enterprise, about the improvement of existing models of harvesters and the development of new ones. Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled his demand to step up import substitution efforts despite Gomselmash has already done a lot in this field. In the past five years the import intensity of production has been reduced to half its volume.
“We must do it. Otherwise, we will make only iron parts, while ‘smart' details such as hydraulics and electronics will be purchased in the West. We must do it locally,” the president stressed.
At the Ostroshitsy farm the head of state was made familiar with samples of grain harvesters, other agricultural equipment and import substitution products (spare parts for Belarusian grain harvesters). There was also a demonstration of seeders produced at OAO Lidagroprommash which is included in Gomselmash Holding Company, and vehicles of Amkodor Holding Company.
