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Belarus’ agriculture will continue developing, Alexander Lukashenko says

MINSK, 10 August (BelTA) – Further development of the agricultural industry of Belarus will largely depend on farm enlargement, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said as he visited the Ostromechevo company in the Brest region on 8 August, the presidential press service told BelTA. On the second day of his working trip to the Belarusian regions, the President visited one of the largest organisations of the Brest region, the Ostromechevo agricultural company. The company ranks second in the region’s gross output and leads in its crop capacity: in 2008 the figure made up 58.2 centners per hectare, in 2009 it totals 55.5 centners per hectare. Alexander Lukashenko stressed the importance of gradual enlargement of farms in the regions. Nearly 10,000 hectares is an optimal area for a farm, according to the President. “No one, however, should be forced into a large farm. If a small farm works stably it should not be transformed,” he said. According to Alexander Lukashenko, the agricultural industry of the Brest region is “well-structured”. The Belarusian leader acknowledged he used to prefer small farms (not more than 5,000 hectares). “In the age of advanced technologies, my standpoint has changed. Today we need large agricultural companies,” the President stressed. He added that another factor pushing us to enlarging farms is that more and more rural residents move to agro-towns and towns. According to the head of state, there are various scenarios for efficient development of agricultural companies. He also reminded that up-to-date technologies should be implemented in every farm. Alexander Lukashenko considered a set of important agricultural issues including breeding technologies, grain conservation and seed selection. The President underscored that the country should stop providing unnecessary support to agriculture. “The state is responsible for a certain number of issues: land, roads, social area. Production fully depends on an efficient activity of the heads of the companies,” he said.

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