Lukashenko: there should be iron discipline regarding settlements

During today’s meeting with the Council of Ministers leadership, President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko demanded an iron discipline of settlements between subjects of the agricultural industry. In particular, this applies to agricultural service organisations.

The Head of State drew attention to the fact that today there are 134 organisations in Belarus providing agricultural, transport, repair and other services to farmers.

The President drew attention to the fact that this is not a modern invention, but the experience of the Soviet era, when multi-functional enterprises were established in each district, performing certain works on orders from collective and state-run farms, which were problematic to do independently: from centralised fuel supplies to maintenance of complex equipment and aggregates, drilling of water wells and others. Even today, it would be impractical to create similar capacities in every farm for servicing, e.g., dairy and grain drying complexes, agricultural machinery. Therefore, the President decided to preserve this system.

“These should be the service centres of our large enterprises. The Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ) supplies tractors, setting up service centres abroad. Without service, without maintenance of equipment, they won’t be able to sell their goods abroad. Why can’t we use these service centres in our own country, preventing the deliveries of spare parts by swindlers and intermediaries?” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.

The Head of State also recalled the tasks of restoring mobile mechanised construction detachments and inter-district land improvement units in each district, “Something started to move in this direction under the President’s pressure.”

However, over time, agricultural service organisations began to experience financial problems. Aleksandr Lukashenko reminded, “For those who have forgotten, in 2019, we have already provided unprecedented support to the parent company [Belagroservice] via debt restructuring. You’re working poorly, having lots of debts, which have been postponed; they have actually been forgiven. Why did you come to me again? Why do we need a minister who sends these documents to me together with the PM? Either you go to jail, or you pay off your debts and work as I said.”

The President repeated his ironclad demand to the governors and the Government, which he voiced repeatedly, “There should be an iron discipline regarding settlements. Without it, we will continue to go around in circles, returning to these issues again and again.”

At the same time, the Head of State warned about a fundamental point, “As of August 1st, there should be no debt to peasants, collective and state-run farms — neither for milk nor for meat. Take the money from the crooks and give it to the peasants for the products they supplied.”

photos: www.president.gov.by