Working trip to Narovlya District, Gomel Oblast

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko made a working trip to Narovlya District on 27 April.

During the working trip the head of state heard a report on the progress of the spring sowing campaign in the country.

Belarusian Agriculture and Food Minister Yuri Gorlov reported to the head of state that Belarus has practically completed the sowing of early spring crops. In Vitebsk Oblast, 8,000 hectares remain to be sown, and these works are expected to be finished by 1 May.

As of 27 April, Belarus has sown 50% of the areas designated for spring crops. Farmers have almost completed the sowing of sugar beet and fiber flax, have sown one-fifth of the planned maize area, and have begun planting potatoes.

“Proper soil preparation is essential. You need to work day and night to get the sowing done. There is no time to delay anymore: it is time to sow,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The President also drew attention to the need to apply organic fertilizers: “It is impossible to live without organic fertilizers. They are necessary.”

The head of state was also briefed on how the structure of sown areas has changed over the past ten years. The area under cereal grains has been reduced by almost 150,000 hectares. At the same time, the area planted with maize for grain has more than doubled. Thanks to this, agricultural producers plan to reach 3 million tonnes of maize grain.

During the visit to the Budki dairy complex at the Krinichnaya experimental agricultural enterprise in Narovlya District, the head of state got familiar with how work is organized at the dairy farm, results of their work, and future development plans. The President stated: “Expensive. We need to find ways to make it cheaper.”

“Certainly, a very expensive complex. A luxury complex. We cannot build like this one everywhere. But naturally it has to produce results,” he concluded.

The dairy complex is not a good fit for mass replication across the country. Chairman of the Gomel Oblast Executive Committee Ivan Krupko agreed with that. In his words, in the course of making plans for building more dairy complexes in the region they are adjusting the designs in order to optimize them and get rid of all the excessive features. “It is never too late to learn. We correct every complex. We make [use] more concrete,” he clarified. “It is a design of the year 2020. We’ve fully implemented it. We are having discussions at the level of the government, the ministry. We are working out measures and getting rid of everything we can remove.”

“You have to be frugal,” the head of state stressed. “We need to come up with a scheme that would make them fight tooth and nail to bring down the cost.”

Some argue that agricultural enterprises build facilities with their own money and have the right to choose options. But the state subsidizes agriculture, the President pointed out. “We could save money for other projects,” he emphasized.

The Budki dairy farm, which the head of state visited, was commissioned in 2024. The farm has 927 head of cattle, including 600 dairy cows. At the same time the farm is designed for more than 3,100 head of cattle, including 1,200 dairy cows. As the head of state was informed, once the farm reaches full capacity, it is expected to sell about 40 tonnes of milk per day.

In the future a cattle fattening camp is supposed to be built at the experimental agricultural enterprise. It is a specially equipped area used during the warm season for keeping, feeding, and milking animals on or near pastures.

Ivan Krupko reported to the President that the Gomel Oblast Executive Committee had decided to build 160 calf nurseries designed to keep 26,000 calves across the region. Work has already begun on all of these facilities. “Keep in mind: calf nurseries are not a solution to all problems with livestock mortality. And veterinary medicine is also not the key thing. You need organization and a proper attitude towards the animals,” the head of state emphasized.

The President also recalled a recent instruction regarding the use of wood for building calf barns. At the same time, it is important to observe construction technologies and not spend excessive money on this. “Wood should be used. The key thing is to observe the technologies. There is no need to invent things and spend crazy money,” he added.

The Belarusian leader touched upon the topic of agriculture in these areas and spoke highly of the local farming standards. “Beyond the Pripyat River the farming standards are very high not only for the Pripyat districts but for the country as a whole. If it is like this everywhere,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

Officials briefed the President on the state of agriculture in Narovlya District. Its particular feature is that some of the arable land there is being cultivated by organizations from Mozyr District. These lands were once transferred to stronger, more financially stable farms capable of developing them, as in the case of the Budki dairy farm, which is located in Narovlya District, while its parent organization, the Krinichnaya experimental farm, is in Mozyr District.

“Have you managed these lands successfully?” the President asked, receiving an affirmative reply.

The discussion also touched upon expanding agricultural land by returning areas affected by the Chernobyl accident to cultivation. Across the entire Gomel Oblast, this added 1,300 hectares over the past year. “We must revive these lands. Whatever it takes, we must return to the lands we had in Soviet times. And we can do it,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized.

“These so-called Chernobyl lands… ‘So‑called’ because I remember how politics was made out of this back then, and the lands were taken out of use,” the head of state noted. “Now it is not so easy to bring them back [to agricultural use]. We have developed a certain system. You need to look at the district, at the land, at the number of hectares, and build [dairy] complexes. Because around a complex there will always be a normal situation. Feed is neededб so the land will be cultivated properly.”

“If you continue to manage the land this way [as you are doing now]... You have carried out reclamation work. Beyond the Pripyat the order is ideal in comparison with other Pripyat districts and the country as a whole. For the country ,there is a very high level of agriculture on these lands. A very high level. If it is the case at every farm [in the district],” the Belarusian leader said.

“We are doing our best to make it this way everywhere. Of course, there is still work to be done,” replied Gomel Oblast Governor Ivan Krupko.

The President emphasized the importance of the interconnected nature of the agricultural industry, including crop production, livestock farming, and the availability of feed and fertilizers in achieving good results.

Another site visited by the head of state during his working trip was the Zarya state farm enterprise. The President recalled how at one time he made the decision to transfer land of Narovlya District to Mozyr’s Zarya, which was developing steadily at that moment. As a result, a consolidated agricultural enterprise was created, covering more than 11,500 hectares. “It is good that you took this land of Narovlya District. I was worried. I thought that I made a hasty decision. [But in the end] it turned out to be a good one. And the governor says you are doing a good job,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.

The President inspected the machinery and tractor fleet of the agricultural enterprise in Narovlya District and the organization of work at the mechanical yard. Here, in fairly simple conditions, they carry out not only minor repairs of equipment but also more complex types of work. All the necessary equipment is available for this. “You see, this is something to learn from!” the President praised. “Well done! Everything is compact, nothing excessive. An ideal machinery yard.” He instructed to apply this experience in other farms of similar scale.

Aleksandr Lukashenko spoke with one of the workers, introduced as the best turner in the district. The President emphasized that, in addition to one’s main job, it is essential to engage in mentoring and teach the younger generation. “I have my own team, my guard,” the head of state joked. “And what about you?”

In addition, the President was briefed on the technology used at the farm for crimping maize during feed preparation. This method is more economical than grinding or crushing that require the maize to be pre-dried, which leads to an additional expense. After crimping, the maize is stored in special sleeves with added preservatives. Such feed is suitable for both pigs and cattle. Last season, Zarya increased its volume of crimped maize fourfold, and this year plans to expand further. “Excellent, it is a good technology,” the head of state said. “Well done. It is important to focus on maize and increase sowing areas.”

During a big working trip to Gomel Oblast Aleksandr Lukashenko also went to OAO Krasny Mozyryanin.

The President was informed that the main target market for Krasny Mozyryanin is the domestic market where the factory sells about 70% of its products. The main foreign buyer of Krasny Mozyryanin’s confectionery products is Russia. However, sweets produced at the confectionery factory in Narovlya are also shipped to Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Kazakhstan. The enterprise plans to penetrate the markets of China, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.

Krasny Mozyryanin has implemented an investment project under the One District – One Project initiative. It involved the reconstruction of the toffee production section with the introduction of new equipment. The project cost Br4.5 million while its implementation made it possible to speed up the production of sweets and more than double the line’s performance.

“You signaled to me about the new line and its launch with your products. Your products have been delivered to me,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted with a smile. “And I was glad that Krasny Mozyryanin has finally started producing toffee and according to an old recipe.”

The head of state personally familiarized himself with the operation of the new toffee production line. Despite the high-tech equipment the recipe has not changed for more than 80 years and only natural ingredients are used to make the toffee: for example, the butter and condensed milk that have already been mentioned.

Another investment project is being implemented at Krasny Mozyryanin. It is even larger and more ambitious. It involves the reconstruction of the candy and marmalade workshop with the installation of an automated pastille production line. The project costs Br11 million, with the implementation timeframe set for 2024-2027. The installation of the automated line will make it possible to increase output and expand the range of the factory’s popular products.

The most popular products made by Krasny Mozyryanin as well as by the confectionery factory Spartak were offered for sampling. The latest products were demonstrated as well.

The Korovka candies from Krasny Mozyryanin are called a hit product. They are still made according to their classic recipe using butter. The recipe has not changed since 1947. Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that he is well familiar with these products.

Spartak Company presented, among other things, a line of sugar-free sweets and products for children such as Pechenyashki cookies and Kroshki-Osminozhki wafer products.

“Well done, you make good products,” the President said. “But do not lose your markets, including foreign ones,” the head of state instructed.