Working visit to Orsha District of Vitebsk Oblast

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko paid a working visit to Orsha District of Vitebsk Oblast on 14 July.

The history of red Danish cattle farming in Belarus began several years ago. At the request of farmers and researchers, 1,200 head of cattle were purchased in Denmark using budget funds. The plan was to develop a domestic breed adapted to Belarusian conditions. The reason is that milk from this breed is characterized by higher fat, protein, and vitamin content, making it ideally suited for cheese production.

“Then the saga began,” the Belarusian leader said. Some claimed the project was close to a complete failure, while scientists, on the contrary, insisted that everything was going according to plan.

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that the project is moving forward too slowly. The increase in herd numbers over the past five years has been negligible.

“So what is really going on, especially here, where we have built a modern facility for researchers? Where is the truth? Let's get to the bottom of it,” the President said, outlining the main topic.

Agriculture and Food Minister Yuri Gorlov reported that the country currently has nearly 2,300 breeding cows of the red breed. They are mainly based at Ustye, which has been designated as a first-tier farm. “By 2028, Utsye will build another dairy complex for 1,000 head dedicated to breeding red Danish cattle,” the minister said. Farms have also been identified in Grodno Oblast, Minsk Oblast, and Brest Oblast that are raising the same breed.

Vladimir Karanik, the chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, that runs the Ustye agricultural enterprise, noted the strong productivity indicators, which have been confirmed in practice. The milk fat content of the purebred cows is at the required level.

He gave a detailed account of the breeding work being carried out by scientists and the finer points of building a solid genetic foundation. All of this, he explained, should make it possible to develop a unique gene pool, which would in turn allow for actually breeding a Belarusian breed by 2030.

After hearing all the information, Aleksandr Lukashenko instructed Head of the President Administration Dmitry Krutoi to find specialists who would clearly spell out the tasks “such as annual herd numbers, complex construction targets… A whole program. So that we can review the results and give our assessment. We need to have a concrete program so that we can see what they (our top academician and the minister) are supposed to achieve. Everything should be spelled out, formalized in the President’s executive order.”

Vladimir Karanik reported that the National Academy of Sciences, together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, has already drawn up such a program based on the outcomes of the working meeting.

During the head of state’s working trip to Orsha District, among the accompanying officials was Governor of Uzbekistan’s Andijan Region Shukhratbek Abdurakhmanov.

The cooperation plans are being implemented in follow-up to the agreements reached between the presidents of the two countries. These include both investments in various sectors and invitations for Uzbek citizens to come to work in Belarus. 

“I promised the President that we would make this happen. It is in our interest. This way, Vitebsk Oblast will get a boost,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “We will work like brothers! You can rest assured.”

“We have decent enough housing in our villages. We’ll fix it up together. Whatever we build, we will build for the people. Uzbeks, Belarusians—there will be no difference,” the Belarusian leader emphasized.

Plans are in place to hire Uzbek citizens not only in agriculture, but also in construction, industry, and the services sector.

Agriculture and Food Minister Yuri Gorlov briefed the President on the overall state of agriculture, with particular emphasis on livestock farming. While there has been some reduction in mortality, the results are still far from satisfactory.

“You’re treading water. You’ve brought it down by less than a percent over six months. We’ll see what the year-end figures will look like,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

Over the first six months of 2026, gross agricultural output went up by 4.9%, with livestock production rising by 3.6% and crop production surging 15.3%.

The minister also updated the President on the grass fodder and silage harvest. Compared to last year, farmers are moving at a significantly faster pace. Winter barley harvesting continues. Nationwide, 46% of the areas has been harvested, though Vitebsk Oblast is only just beginning due to the local climate.

The yields are good, but Aleksandr Lukashenko was critical of the poor field conditions he had noticed on his way to Orsha. Some fields were badly overgrown with weeds. “You did a poor job. I warned you that in this kind of weather, you need to rely on the right chemicals. I saw how you handled it,” he said.