MINSK, 18 July (BelTA) – Harvesting should not proceed in a careless manner, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said during a conference call on 18 July to discuss harvesting, BelTA has learned.
“We cannot allow carelessness during harvesting. This will inevitably lead to crop losses,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.
He asked the officials overseeing the agricultural industry about the overall situation on the ground and issues that require immediate attention.
“Grain drying complexes are now in the focus: we will have to harvest (we can already see this) wet grain, thus we will need to use grain dryers.” In this regard, the president inquired how drying facilities of grain processing plants will be utilized.
“Fourthly, the key to success in harvesting is hard work and compliance with technology. What is being done to prevent violations? How do you prevent theft during the harvest season?” asked Aleksandr Lukashenko.
The head of state warned that he is well aware of the situation on the ground without police reports: “They steal whatever they can. Tough action is needed to stop it.”
Fifthly, the president remarked that grain harvesting coincides with harvesting of rapeseed, flax, the second cutting of perennial grasses, and the sowing of stubble crops. Agricultural work does not stop. Often, the same machine operators work on forage and grain harvesters. Speaking about the situation with machine operators, Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “This should be punished severely.”
He recalled that this problem was raised last year. Back then a proposal was put forward to engage city residents who have the experience of working as combine operators or assistant combine operators. “We needed to reach out to them and mobilize them, as the military would put it, to help us harvest crops,” the president said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko asked whether the necessary working conditions are in place for combine operators, drivers, workers at grain threshing floors - all those who are involved in one way or another in the harvesting effort.
“We shouldn’t forget about our farmers. Therefore, we must help farmers to harvest what they have grown on their household plots (unfortunately, there are not many plots left),” the head of state said.
He asked officials not to dwell on the weather and its impact: “I want to know specifically: what has been done to achieve the maximum result in extreme conditions.”
“I drove through Belarusian fields late in the evening and I know the situation. Late blight on potatoes is really concerning. God forbid, I will find out that you did not treat the potatoes. And we will worry again next year, in March-April, about the shortage of potatoes. We need to treat potatoes, take good care of them. I do not see any problems with other row crops. As to grain, the most serious challenge is lodging, because as you know it creates a greenhouse effect, and grass begins to grow. If grass starts growing, we will not be able to harvest this grain, although it is not bad this year,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said drawing attention to particularly serious issues.
The president advised farmers not to relax, not to wait and not to leave grain out to dry in the fields. According to him, it is necessary to harvest and dry crops on time. “The main thing is to avoid losses. The weather will be like this all the time: rainy, dry, sunny, rainy. There has not been such weather on our watch. The year is not bad for crops and animals. There is enough equipment, only discipline and good management are lacking,” the Belarusian leader added.
During the conference call in Brest:
During the conference call in Vitebsk:
During the conference call in Gomel:
During the conference call in Grodno:
During the conference call in Minsk Oblast:
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