MINSK, Jul 24 (BelTA/APP): It is critically need to conduct the harvest campaign at maximum speed, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said during a working trip to Smolevichi District, Minsk Oblast to monitor field operations, BelTA learned.
“We must accelerate, whatever it takes,” the president emphasized. “We absolutely cannot waste this year. The harvest will be good if we manage to gather it without losses, as much as possible.”
The president is inspecting a winter barley field in Ozeritsky-Agro in Smolevichi District. Aleksandr Lukashenko explained why he chose this particular location and farm in Minsk Oblast. The president wants to get a general picture of the harvest progress, and this location represents average conditions, both in terms of this farm and Minsk Oblast as a whole. If the situation here is good, then the national average will likely be good too: slightly worse in the northern Vitebsk Oblast, and slightly better in the southern and western areas.
“This is a good indicator. Seeing how things are here we will understand how our combine harvesters work, that things are lacking,” the head of state said.
He noted that the harvesting campaign in the country is uneven as things depend on the weather. Therefore, Aleksandr Lukashenko urges against drying grain in the fields as delaying the harvesting will lead to grain losses. “We need to harvest as fast as possible,” Aleksandr Lukashenko added.
The field that the head of state came to inspect has yielded 70 centners of winter barley per hectare. This crop has good yields across the country (over 40 centners per hectare) despite difficult weather conditions.
“If it is over 40 centners per hectare, it is a good harvest in the country,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “But we need to strive for Ozeritsky-Agro’s yields.”
“In a word, we will continue to cultivate barley. This is a good crop,” the head of state added.
According to him, the same is true about winter rape crop. Both crops are profitable to cultivate; this is money for agricultural enterprises. If everything is done technologically, then good harvests are guaranteed.