MINSK, 18 July (BelTA) – The work of agriculture should be organized in a way to prevent any remarks. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the relevant statement during a conference call held on 18 July to discuss matters concerning the harvesting campaign, BelTA has learned. The president heard out a report from Agriculture and Food Minister Yuri Gorlov.
Before Yuri Gorlov’s report the president instructed the official to focus on the shortcomings that exist in Belarusian agriculture. The head of state noted that the report should not be just a collection of facts. The report needs analysis, conclusions, and proposals. The president suggested that Yuri Gorlov should also pay attention to the remarks made by the chairman of the State Control Committee.
Yuri Gorlov said that according to evaluations of specialists and scientists, the gross harvest of cereals, leguminous crops, and corn in Belarusian agricultural enterprises is expected to be close to 9.7 million tonnes in bunker weight terms. The expected figure exceeds last year’s by half a million tonnes. Taking into account the expected harvest of rapeseed to the tune of 900,000 tonnes the total gross harvest in bunker weight terms is expected at 10.7 million tonnes.
“Today, after several days have passed, we are busy harvesting all over the country. Are you sure we will collect that much?” the head of state asked for clarification.
“It is very premature to make such a forecast,” Yuri Gorlov started saying.
“In short, you don’t know it! Don’t try to bury the problem with idle chitchat! You haven’t thought about it. You don’t know it. And you cannot give an answer!” Aleksandr Lukashenko interrupted. “I believe that we will not get 11 million [tonnes] considering all the factors.” According to the president, as the agriculture and food minister Yuri Gorlov should feel whether it will be possible to harvest as much or not.
The readiness of machines, vehicles, and equipment was also mentioned. The president once again asked for clarification whether all the registered harvesters would be used for farming operations. The head of state is confident that not all the registered harvesters are ready to begin the harvesting campaign. This is why he instructed the internal affairs minister to verify the readiness of the machines, vehicles, and equipment.
“You have to carefully and meticulously approach the problems that are handled in a district or in a specific agricultural enterprise. Instead of coming, seeing, and criticizing machine operators right away. You have to approach it carefully and tactfully. You have to verify how many harvesters we have,” Aleksandr Lukashenko told the internal affairs minister.
According to Yuri Gorlov, as of today over 230 harvesters across the country have not been repaired. Vitebsk Oblast is the area of the greatest concern. As many as 97% of the harvesters are ready for the harvesting campaign.
“But we are now talking about those that are not ready,” the president remarked. He asked to clarify what specific measures had been taken to fix the problem. “You have to see specific guilty individuals instead of offending the entire oblast. Name them specifically,” Aleksandr Lukashenko added.
Yuri Gorlov also informed participants of the conference call about the availability of fuel in agricultural enterprises. There are no problems with fuel availability, the agriculture and food minister assured. All the regions have started harvesting cereals while Brest Oblast, Vitebsk Oblast, Gomel Oblast, and Grodno Oblast have started harvesting winter rapeseed.
The president gave instructions to organize work in agricultural enterprises in a way to avoid any remarks. “Act despite everything. If you cannot, report to me directly. If someone fails to obey you, fails to provide information, report to me right away. We will implement the toughest measures. We cannot joke about it today,” the president stressed. “Make sure we don’t have unpleasant conversations about the results. In order to achieve good results, you have to work now!”
Follow us on:
