Lukashenko: So-Called Dictatorship And Order Proved Its Efficiency In Agro-Industry
TUT.BY / BelarusFeed
4 May 2021, 12:53
The so-called dictatorship and order have shown their effectiveness in the agro-industy, Alexander Lukashenko believes. On 29 April, a meeting on the current situation in the country’s agro-industry is being held at the Palace of Independence in Minsk.
Lukashenko said that last year became a real test for the system of world economic relations: borders were closed, long-term trade ties were destroyed, and states and economic unions refused to fulfil their obligations of mutual support.
“I do not exclude that someone stands behind this. But the fact that many took advantage of this situation is probably not a secret for those present here.”
According to Lukashenko, national interests stood the test of COVID-19, especially in ensuring the priority needs of the population.
“The issue of food security came to the fore. Last spring, there was almost panic in the world: they did not know how to sow and grow crops, predicted a shortage of food. This is what happened in the world. Today, food price increases have exceeded 10% worldwide.
This is when the so-called dictatorship and order, for which we are not only criticized, but reproached, have shown their effectiveness. Thanks to the potential that we have created during the period of independence in the agricultural sector, last year the production growth of the main types of products was ensured,” he said.
Lukashenko is alarmed by the information about the state of affairs in animal husbandry: the production of livestock and poultry in live weight has slightly decreased, the death rate has increased, and the livestock has decreased.
“I think the Prosecutor General is well aware that this is the area of responsibility of the Prosecutor’s Office. There should be no mortality if we want agricultural production to grow. I say it again: the chairmen of the district executive committees must decide, if two or three farms cannot cope with this, then young animals should be taken out of these farms and sent to those farms that can provide care for young animals,” he added.
Lukashenko noted that the sale of products depends on production and, as a result, the economic state of the village.
“Don’t even ask for money. You have the money. And, God willing, we solve those problems and implement the plans that we have outlined. We cannot allocate significant funds to where they should be earned and from where they should come to the budget. We cannot afford to make up for monetary losses with anything other than production efficiency,” he said and noted that the situation in the industry is quite different across regions and districts.
“If there are problem-free farms, then why, given the same weather, financial and other factors, such striking results? Discipline and organization is the problem. Moreover, sometimes one gets the impression that the more support and trust the region gets, the worse it works. We will figure it out on the example of the Vitebsk region in the near future, and, God forbid, you will not make progress there. We have already done everything you asked for.”
At the meeting, the reports of the chairmen of the regional executive committees were heard. Lukashenko inquired about the reasons that have become an obstacle to the dynamic development of the agro-industrial complex, and what measures are being taken to eliminate them.
“The specifics of the agricultural industry is that the key success factors are in the regions, and not in Minsk: efficient use of material and labour resources, exclusion of mismanagement, optimal use of the entire potential of the industry. Today, we must make decisions that will define specific tasks for managers at all levels, and set parameters by which the performance will be assessed later.”
Lukashenko also shared with the meeting participants his observations on the results of a recent trip to the “Chernobyl” regions.
“I categorically insist on the intensification of land reclamation. We should focus on this. We are losing huge areas, thousands of hectares. They began to overgrow with shrubs. And tomorrow, useless trees will grow out of it (we have enough forests to recycle it). Land reclamation, land maintenance, and fertility enhancement are tasks of national importance. This is our task. Therefore, I will ask the Minister and Deputy Prime Minister to deal with these problems.”
Another problem is a large number of empty household plots and abandoned houses in some villages. Lukashenko has set a task to quickly resolve the relevant issues – ownerless houses must either be sold or demolished, and the land must be reclaimed and involved in agricultural circulation. According to Lukashenko, recently the townspeople have begun to actively buy vacant land plots and houses in rural areas.
Similarly, Alexander Lukashenko demanded to solve the problem with the old, not used buildings of former farms: “We have built livestock complexes. This gave us the opportunity to leave almost everywhere from industrial premises that are barely alive and technologically cannot provide production. That is, we have abandoned the old farms, and trees are growing on the roofs.”
He allotted two or three years to solve the problem, stressing that these objects should not be “monuments of mismanagement,” and the released land should be used for the needs of agriculture. Alexander Lukashenko instructed the chairman of the KGC Vasily Gerasimov to take control of the situation. Lukashenko also drew attention to the fact that farms are still behind the schedule of spring fieldwork. He set the task to sow beets, flax, corn and half of the potatoes by 9 May.
“9 May is the deadline. On the 10th, I will find time to inspect the country (certain points have worked out for me over the years) and draw a conclusion about what the governors and people subordinate to you are capable of.”
4 May 2021, 12:53
Lukashenko said that last year became a real test for the system of world economic relations: borders were closed, long-term trade ties were destroyed, and states and economic unions refused to fulfil their obligations of mutual support.
“I do not exclude that someone stands behind this. But the fact that many took advantage of this situation is probably not a secret for those present here.”
According to Lukashenko, national interests stood the test of COVID-19, especially in ensuring the priority needs of the population.
“The issue of food security came to the fore. Last spring, there was almost panic in the world: they did not know how to sow and grow crops, predicted a shortage of food. This is what happened in the world. Today, food price increases have exceeded 10% worldwide.
This is when the so-called dictatorship and order, for which we are not only criticized, but reproached, have shown their effectiveness. Thanks to the potential that we have created during the period of independence in the agricultural sector, last year the production growth of the main types of products was ensured,” he said.
Lukashenko is alarmed by the information about the state of affairs in animal husbandry: the production of livestock and poultry in live weight has slightly decreased, the death rate has increased, and the livestock has decreased.
“I think the Prosecutor General is well aware that this is the area of responsibility of the Prosecutor’s Office. There should be no mortality if we want agricultural production to grow. I say it again: the chairmen of the district executive committees must decide, if two or three farms cannot cope with this, then young animals should be taken out of these farms and sent to those farms that can provide care for young animals,” he added.
Lukashenko noted that the sale of products depends on production and, as a result, the economic state of the village.
“Don’t even ask for money. You have the money. And, God willing, we solve those problems and implement the plans that we have outlined. We cannot allocate significant funds to where they should be earned and from where they should come to the budget. We cannot afford to make up for monetary losses with anything other than production efficiency,” he said and noted that the situation in the industry is quite different across regions and districts.
“If there are problem-free farms, then why, given the same weather, financial and other factors, such striking results? Discipline and organization is the problem. Moreover, sometimes one gets the impression that the more support and trust the region gets, the worse it works. We will figure it out on the example of the Vitebsk region in the near future, and, God forbid, you will not make progress there. We have already done everything you asked for.”
At the meeting, the reports of the chairmen of the regional executive committees were heard. Lukashenko inquired about the reasons that have become an obstacle to the dynamic development of the agro-industrial complex, and what measures are being taken to eliminate them.
“The specifics of the agricultural industry is that the key success factors are in the regions, and not in Minsk: efficient use of material and labour resources, exclusion of mismanagement, optimal use of the entire potential of the industry. Today, we must make decisions that will define specific tasks for managers at all levels, and set parameters by which the performance will be assessed later.”
Lukashenko also shared with the meeting participants his observations on the results of a recent trip to the “Chernobyl” regions.
“I categorically insist on the intensification of land reclamation. We should focus on this. We are losing huge areas, thousands of hectares. They began to overgrow with shrubs. And tomorrow, useless trees will grow out of it (we have enough forests to recycle it). Land reclamation, land maintenance, and fertility enhancement are tasks of national importance. This is our task. Therefore, I will ask the Minister and Deputy Prime Minister to deal with these problems.”
Another problem is a large number of empty household plots and abandoned houses in some villages. Lukashenko has set a task to quickly resolve the relevant issues – ownerless houses must either be sold or demolished, and the land must be reclaimed and involved in agricultural circulation. According to Lukashenko, recently the townspeople have begun to actively buy vacant land plots and houses in rural areas.
Similarly, Alexander Lukashenko demanded to solve the problem with the old, not used buildings of former farms: “We have built livestock complexes. This gave us the opportunity to leave almost everywhere from industrial premises that are barely alive and technologically cannot provide production. That is, we have abandoned the old farms, and trees are growing on the roofs.”
He allotted two or three years to solve the problem, stressing that these objects should not be “monuments of mismanagement,” and the released land should be used for the needs of agriculture. Alexander Lukashenko instructed the chairman of the KGC Vasily Gerasimov to take control of the situation. Lukashenko also drew attention to the fact that farms are still behind the schedule of spring fieldwork. He set the task to sow beets, flax, corn and half of the potatoes by 9 May.
“9 May is the deadline. On the 10th, I will find time to inspect the country (certain points have worked out for me over the years) and draw a conclusion about what the governors and people subordinate to you are capable of.”
