SHKLOV DISTRICT, 10 August (BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko continued his working trip to Shklov District on 10 August to discuss the situation in agriculture on the example of the Kupalovskoye Holding Company development concept, BelTA has learned.
The meeting considered the organizational structure of the holding company and the prospects of its development, including the possibility of enlargement and joining other farms.
The president asked how the three enterprises that make part of the Kupalovskoye operate: “What exactly do those kolkhozes [collective farms] and sovkhozes [state-run farms], which used to be here in the Soviet times do? Those were both very strong farms and weaker ones, which also had great prospects for development.” Given the fact that they now occupy about 32% of Shklov District and can it half of the area of the region, if the head of state okays the proposal to enlarge it by joining two more farms (ASB-Agro Gorodets and Aleksandriyskoye) to the agricultural holding company, the state of affairs in the region will largely depend on their efficient work of these enterprises.
Aleksandr Lukashenko believes that at present the potential of the district in terms of agricultural development is still hugely untapped and steps should be taken to rectify the situation. Shklov District is one of the best in the country in terms of land resources and soil fertility. According to the president, Gorki, Mstislavl, Shklov District, Belynichi District, Krugloye District, and Mogilev Districts have very good lands. “Yet, they pay back less than they should,” the head of state said. “That is why we are trying to do something in the east, which could bring money to farmers and contribute to the development of agro-industrial complex here.”
Before the meeting Aleksandr Lukashenko inspected the Kupalovskoye lands and made sure that even the existing potential has not been fully utilized yet. “I will not say that it is a catastrophe there. There are much worse [examples across the country]. But this is half of what it should be. It should be perfect order here. To what extend? Sergei [Bartosh, Chairman of the Shklov District Executive Committee, former Agriculture and Food Minister], you know it very well from your past work. It should be like in the best farms of Grodno Oblast and Brest Oblast. It should be perfect. It should be like they did on the road from Aleksandria to Shklov. They did it so well there that the West will envy. The same should be done in Kupalovskoye. No grandstanding, but a high culture of farming and, of course, the return from these lands. Perfect order needs to be everywhere, not just close along the road,” the president emphasized.
One of the most important tasks set by the head of state was the organization of a full cycle of production in the agricultural holding company, from crop cultivation, fodder base, livestock breeding to processing and sale of finished products. “We understand perfectly well that in order for the farmers to have money, we need to make products, process and sell. Then you will have money on your hands,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. There are examples of such organization of work in the public and private sectors. “The lands are good, people know how to work. We can have good results here,” he believes.
The head of the Kupalovskoye holding company and the heads of the affiliated enterprises reported to the head of state in detail on the abovementioned issues. Other officials also expressed their opinion on the matter. The conversation was primarily focused on the development prospects and organization of work, improvement of production structure, soil cultivation culture, efficiency of land use and cattle breeding.