Events

27 Aug 2019

Belarus president briefed on progress in harvest campaign

MINSK, 27 August (BelTA) – Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko was briefed on the progress in the ongoing harvest campaign and seasonal fieldwork as he heard out reports by First Vice Premier Aleksandr Turchin and Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Dvornik on 27 August, BelTA has learned.

“As of today, some 97% of the cropping areas have been harvested. More than 6 million tonnes of grain have been produced,” Vladimir Dvornik told the media after he reported to the president.

The head of state was informed on the current situation in the agricultural sector taking into account the head of state’s previous instructions to prompt the completion of the harvest campaign. “The president always keeps abreast of the situation. Tasks have been set to complete the fieldwork as quickly as possible. The main thing for today is sowing. This is what we must do now to ensure a harvest for the next year,” the vice premier said.

According to the operational data of the Agriculture and Food Ministry, as of 27 August, Belarusian farmers harvested 97.1% of the areas under grain (except for maize), producing more than 6.4 million tonnes of grain. Less than 5.2 million tonnes of grain was harvested as of 27 August 2018. This year’s average yield is 31.2 centners per hectare (as against 26.4 centners per hectare last year).