Meeting to discuss sustainable development of Vitebsk Oblast

It is important to preserve and develop villages and production, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a meeting to discuss sustainable development of Vitebsk Oblast on 24 October.

“You have probably noticed, and not only you but also our enemies and opponents, that I have been spending a lot of time in the countryside lately. If anyone thinks this is connected with production, the agro-industrial complex, our collective, state-owned or private farms, they are only partly correct. Agricultural production does not concern me as much as it used to in the mid-1990s,” the head of state said. “The main reason why I am constantly out in the fields and on farms is because, as before, my goal (and I very much hope yours as well) is to preserve villages. Without them, there will be no state. We will be doomed.”

Speaking about the problems in the agro-industrial complex of Vitebsk Oblast, Aleksandr Lukashenko frankly said that the country could live without the region’s contribution to this industry and would hardly notice its absence: “We produce twice as much agricultural output as the country needs.”

The President noted that the current situation is very different from that of the mid-1990s. Back then, there was uncertainty about how to employ people, while today there is a lack of labor resources, especially in rural areas.

“Despite this, gritting our teeth, we managed to feed and clothe the people,” the Belarusian leader emphasized.

“The most important thing is that work in livestock farming cannot be turned into criminal activity. There must be the strictest personal accountability for failures. So far, no matter how much anyone tries to convince me otherwise, I see that you have not reversed this negative trend. The main problem is that you lack the most basic thing - discipline,” the Belarusian leader emphasized.

Aleksandr Lukashenko identified this issue as one of the most pressing in agriculture. From January to September, the mortality rate across the country reached 108,000 head, which is overall 5% lower than last year's level. At the same time, 51 districts in the country reported an increase in mortality, with 13 of them seeing a rise of one and a half times or more. Furthermore, the norms approved by the Agriculture and Food Ministry are being exceeded almost everywhere.

“Listen, you came up with some kind of mortality norms. Fine, you came up with norms. I never pressured you on this. You sat down, together with scientists, and derived these ‘justified standards’. You approved them. So why aren't you meeting them? You set these targets for yourselves. Why aren't you meeting them? How am I supposed to react?” the head of state said.

Vitebsk Oblast recorded a significant increase in mortality (up 39%, or 16,000 head) with Grodno Oblast (15,000 head) in second place, which the President called surprising. “It is astounding. It's headed by a general [Grodno Oblast Governor Yuri Karayev],” the head of state said.

In his words, Grodno Oblast is beginning to worry him in many respects. On this point, the President recalled that this also included the “failings” of the region's former governor Vladimir Karanik, who now heads the National Academy of Sciences.

“The shortcomings in Vitebsk Oblast, which the State Control Committee reported to me with photographs, is typical for the entire country. That is why all the governors are here. Instead of concrete work and at least small, but real, positive shifts, you continue to engage in falsifying records and fabricating information,” the President reproached. “There seems to be fodder, but it is universally low-quality, with violations detected in every fifth agricultural organization in half of the country's districts. Instead of haylage, your records show ‘rotten stuff’.”

The President also expressed disapproval regarding the veterinary sector: “You've been fooling around to the point where some farms aren't conducting vaccinations at all, while others are treating animals with expired veterinary drugs. What are you doing? Instead of medicine, you are injecting calves with poison - expired drugs. Is that normal? Your veterinary staff, instead of performing their direct duties, are inventing new ways to conceal livestock mortality.”

Summarizing the outcomes of the meeting in Vitebsk, Aleksandr Lukashenko outlined his position on what Vitebsk Oblast can expect in terms of state assistance.

During the meeting, and taking into account the severe criticism voiced by the head of state, Vitebsk Oblast Governor Aleksandr Subbotin presented proposals for the Vitebsk Oblast's development plans up to 2030. These included key projects and areas intended to help achieve the desired outcome, namely a significant increase in the gross regional product, budget revenues, and real wages. The proposals were not limited to the development of agriculture and the industrial sector; they also included initiatives to boost tourism and improve the transport and logistics sector. The governor suggested including a number of road and bridge construction projects in state programs.

Regarding the construction of road infrastructure, Aleksandr Lukashenko agreed that work was needed in this area but immediately cautioned that Vitebsk Oblast is not the only one in the country, and that the requests of other regions must also be considered when allocating funds.

Speaking about the plans until 2030, the President stated that it is necessary not just to list the planned targets, but to outline them year by year so that the process of fulfilling the promises can be monitored.

“Break it down evenly by year. Once you deliver, you get the support. If you fail to deliver, you will be held accountable to the fullest extent. So first, give us the result you promised, and then you'll receive assistance. Maybe we'll even give you more. I will find ways, I will use reserves. If you do not deliver, you'll be held accountable to the absolute limit. No excuses. This can't be a ‘wishlist’; it has to be quantified and it has to be binding,” said the head of state.

Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized once again that he is ready to consider various requests and appeals from the region, but that everything depends on the results of the region's development.

“Today, everyone must pull together and do a good deed. If we pull up Vitebsk Oblast, then Mogilev Oblast and Gomel Oblast will have no choice but to follow,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “We will turn Vitebsk Oblast inside out. You will receive financial support, some organizational support, and other kinds only when you convince the government, and they convince me. Then I will agree to it. If not, I won't lift a finger.”

“If you want to live and work on your land, on Vitebsk land, and you want help, I am always ready. I am ready to stand with you and work together. If not, then there will be harsh accountability. To put it bluntly: live, earn, divide it up, pay taxes (there will be no benefits), take it, divide it. Only this way. This is where we are headed. I suggest you prepare to be held strictly accountable,” the President warned.

The head of state reiterated the need to quickly establish order and “polish” everything necessary in Vitebsk Oblast - from collective farms to enterprises, wherever it is required.

“The pressure will be immense. Everything must be fulfilled. And don't push it off to 2030,” the Belarusian leader said.

Regarding the work of the agro-industrial associations created earlier, the President refrained from giving any final assessment for now. “I didn't see anything wrong with it back then. I don't see it now either. It just needs to be adjusted to fit the raw material zones,” the President said.

“We must monopolize all procurement for agriculture. Especially from external sources. And monitor everything strictly. There should be no excessive profitability there,” the head of state instructed. “It's cheaper than having everyone import separately and compete with each other. We know this from other areas.”

Another directive was to eliminate all sorts of unnecessary intermediary structures. He personally assigned Aleksandr Kosinets to handle this matter.

The head of state also demanded the elimination of bureaucratic requirements and obstacles that prevent local managers from achieving their goals. For instance, regarding the construction of certain agricultural facilities, where excessive requirements exist.

The meeting with the head of state lasted for more than five hours. The participants discussed in detail all the problematic issues and shortcomings present in the region. Currently, many social and economic development targets are not being met, and there is a downturn in key industries.

Another important topic of the meeting was the measures required to overcome the problem of livestock mortality. This issue was considered on a nationwide scale.

The situation was reported in detail by Head of the Belarusian Statistical Committee Inna Medvedeva, Chairman of the State Control Committee Vasily Gerasimov and Prosecutor General Andrei Shved.

After hearing from the speakers of the “critical block”, the discussion moved on to the measures necessary to rectify the situation. Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Shuleiko spoke on the problem of cattle mortality.

Heads of the Belarusian Parliament houses Natalya Kochanova and Igor Sergeyenko outlined their assessment of the situation. The latter also serves as the President's authorized representative in Vitebsk Oblast.

The opinions of former Vitebsk Oblast governors Aleksandr Kosinets and Nikolai Sherstnev, as well as the heads of a number of enterprises, were also heard.