MINSK, 17 February (BelTA) - Despite last year’s good harvest, there are still many problematic issues in the agricultural sector that require prompt resolution, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said while receiving the government’s report for 2025, BelTA has learned.
“Despite the good harvest, overall agricultural results are barely improved from last year. Agricultural enterprises grew at 102.7%, so our large-farm strategy is essentially correct,” the president said. “Livestock production rose (103%), and food exports hit a record $10 billion. But these achievements are overshadowed by unacceptable livestock mortality and chronic farm debt.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that for more than one five-year plan, the goal has been set to make the agricultural sector a financially sustainable, profitable business. “Yes, we earn decently, but state support alone to cover losses amounted to Br2.1 billion. Not to mention preferential loans and credits from the budget. Someone might say: state aid to the rural sector is a widespread global practice. Possibly,” the Belarusian leader observed. “But the situation is such that half of domestic agricultural organizations still largely exist on debts, advances from processors, and are unprofitable without timely financial infusions. This hasn’t surprised local people for a long time; they perceive it as normal. Especially in Vitebsk Oblast, Mogilev Oblast , and Gomel Oblast - the eastern oblasts. And others have problems too.”
The head of state also drew attention to shortcomings in winter crop sowing: “Last year we carried out winter crop sowing, but a third of farms did not apply mineral fertilizers, or applied only 20% of the required amount. Not to mention that not a single region completed this sowing within the established timeframe. Look, these are your problems. But we cannot harvest less than 11.5 million tonnes of grain in the country.”
“Fertilizer accumulation for spring sowing is stalling again - 200,000 tonnes less than a year earlier,” the Belarusian leader said.
Every third farm records violations in feed procurement. “Where will healthy livestock, weight gains, and milk yields come from later, if there is such technological chaos on the farms? But this year we’ve already set another anti-record for livestock mortality - 19,200 cattle in just one month. I’m not even talking about pigs, poultry, and so on. A 1.5-fold increase!” the head of state emphasized. “I am amazed by the reasoning of some officials and government members, governors: ‘We’ll correct it during the year.’ What will you correct if 20,000 have already died in one month?”
Another shortcoming: despite the president’s instructions, land is becoming overgrown with shrubs. “Annually, 800,000 hectares remain under shrubs and debris. That’s an area the size of 22 Minsks! And this figure has not decreased for at least five years,” the Belarusian leader cited data. “These shrubs need to be removed, and if necessary, organic matter and peat should be brought in to turn them into agricultural land.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that he recently saw a TV report about Belarus supplying peat to China by railcar to improve soil fertility there. At the same time, it seems this resource is not being fully utilized within Belarus. “Can't we use this ourselves? Or don’t we need agricultural land?” the Belarusian leader drew attention. “Agricultural land is sacred. The world’s population is constantly growing. If not today, then tomorrow, food will be more expensive than gold.
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