Events

Lukashenko criticizes insufficient progress in reducing cattle mortality

ORSHA DISTRICT, 14 July (BelTA) - During a working trip to Orsha District in Vitebsk Oblast, President Aleksandr Lukashenko criticized the lack of sufficient progress in bringing down cattle mortality rates, BelTA has learned.

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.