Events
‘If we have bread, we will live’. Lukashenko on harvest campaign, food security
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MINSK, 21 July (BelTA) – The harvest season is not only a certain exam for agrarians but also a guarantee of the country’s food security and one of the foundations of export foreign currency earnings, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said during a nationwide video conference to discuss the 2026 harvest campaign, BelTA has learned.
The head of state noted that holding a broad-format video conference is a traditional practice, since harvesting is one of the most important topics in the country at this time of year.
“If we speak about the mentality of Belarusians, it is firmly ingrained in us that even when the world is shaken by wars and conflicts, and the line between common sense and the madness of certain politicians disappears, we must plow, sow, and harvest grain. Because in both wartime and peacetime, people want to eat,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “The harvest season is not only a certain exam, not only the result of the entire annual cycle of agrarians’ work, but also a solid guarantee of our food security and one of the foundations of export foreign currency revenue. It is the concern of the entire state, not just agrarians. If we have bread, we will live.”
“And for the country to have bread and meat, for enterprises not to stand idle without raw materials, for farms and complexes not to be left without feed, and for state orders to be fulfilled, everyone must do their job properly and without any interruptions,” the president emphasized.
He noted that everything necessary has been done for this. In addition, the harvest results are expected to be good. “Now, we must collect this harvest to the maximum extent possible, without excuses or references to circumstances, including weather conditions. Such surprises in our latitude are a familiar picture, and we have experience from previous campaigns,” the head of state added.
At present, work in the fields is underway in several directions. The harvesting of grain and winter rapeseed is in progress, the second cut of grass is being carried out, and soon it will be time to sow winter crops. “Planning everything competently is the task of the entire vertical: from the agronomist and the head of the agricultural enterprise to the governors and the government,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.
“There is no time for gradual starting. You see, the Lord does not allow us this. Mass harvesting is starting five to seven days earlier than usual, and given the heavy rains and moderate warming, it will not be easy,” he stated. “I don’t even want to speak at length about discipline. It is fundamental. It must be ironclad, both in terms of following technology and in terms of one’s attitude toward their duties.”
The president also called for helping those who live in private households: “First of all, we must help the elderly and those who live alone, who have no one else to rely on except the head of the agricultural enterprise and the state.”
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