Lukashenko: we need to carefully figure out what we need from corn
During his working trip to the Dzerzhinsky agro-combine facilities in the Krupki District, the President stressed that high-quality feed needs to be procured. In particular, he asked the Agriculture and Food Minister, Igor Brylo, of how much is left to be harvested, and the reply was ‘less than three percent’.
By now, more than 10.7m tonnes of grain and leguminous crops have been harvested countrywide. Aleksandr Lukashenko once again stressed there is no need to quickly reach the level of 11m tonnes of grain. “We have focused everyone on grain, but we should also look at corn. We need to have corn silage. We should not try to quickly reach the level of 11m tonnes of grain. We need to carefully figure out what we need from corn: either grain, or good silage. The latter is very good today. Corn silage is a salvation for an underperforming farm,” he said.
The President instructed to calculate exactly how much grain is needed for animal husbandry. “This year should become basic, determinative. In the future, we will then calculate all these percentages of yield based on this year, because this is a good year,” he noted.
Aleksandr Lukashenko also touched upon the issue of repayment of grain debts by some agricultural enterprises, “They should not feel relaxed, but they should not also be pressed to return everything within one year. It might happen otherwise that they get the harvest, we take it from them, and they are again on the rocks. A wise approach is needed.”
The President also drew attention to the prompt sowing of winter crops, “We have realised that winter crops need to be sown, and that areas should be expanded.”
Collection of flax straw is another important issue, and – according to Mr. Brylo – this work is planned to be done by September 25th. The President informed that he intends to visit the Orsha Linen Mill in late autumn to discuss the prospects of flax processing.
It was also noted that the hot weather had affected the sugar beet harvest, but this will not affect sugar production. There will be no shortage. The President was informed that 600,000 tonnes of this sweet product are planned to be produced, of which 220,000 tonnes will be exported.
