News & Events in Belarus
Lukashenko: Time to demand results from Vitebsk Oblast agribusiness associations
GLUBOKOYE, 18 March (BelTA) – Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko convened a conference on 18 March to discuss the development of agribusiness associations in Vitebsk Oblast, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “Two years ago upon a proposal from the locals I backed a project to create seven integration structures in Vitebsk Oblast. Back then roughly the same people swore to assure me and the entire country that it was the only way to lead you to a good life. All of you remember it, this is why today is the time (first in the west and then in the east, as I’ve promised) for us to review the effectiveness of operation of agribusiness associations in our oblast.”
The head of state reminded that it has been two years since the relevant documents were revised and that the state had done absolutely everything the Vitebsk Oblast administration had asked. “And even more than that: we forgave, wrote off, gave respites, installment plans, opened special accounts, we pay off interest rates, and so on. Time has come to demand results. The situation in the world and naturally in our region is not simple. As for you, you have a serious debt to the country and the state budget. Frankly speaking, you must repay the money and the support you’ve been granted,” the president stressed.
About manufacturing and economy
Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked that information available to the central government, the Vitebsk Oblast administration, oversight and auditing agencies indicates that the agribusiness groups have not reached the necessary development parameters yet. “Neither in production (harvest, forage, meat, milk, workload of production facilities) nor most importantly in economy and finance (profit and profitability, export, debt servicing). I believe the state of affairs is extremely abnormal. It is abnormal that the agribusiness associations reported an overall loss from sales last year,” he said.
The head of state stated that half of the enterprises operate in the red. Overdue debts have increased, brokers prosper, and processing enterprises give years-long payments in advance to ineffective agricultural enterprises.
Salaries and human resources management
According to the information available to the president, delays in the payment of salaries to ordinary workers have been reported. “I’ve warned you specifically against that. And it is the last talk we’ll have about it,” he warned.
The State Control Committee reports high staff turnover in Vitebsk Oblast agribusiness. Half of the executives have stayed in their positions for less than three years. “Your agribusiness associations lack dozens of livestock specialists, agronomists, veterinarians, and other necessary specialists. While we agreed that after the agribusiness associations are established, brigades of specialists will be created, particularly veterinarians, they will cater to the enterprises that belong to you integration associations,” Aleksandr Lukashenko reminded. “If we don’t resolve the personnel problem, if we don’t resolve the problem with labor discipline and other kinds of discipline, then we will resolve no problems.”
Performance discipline and powers
The president stressed that during the conference it is necessary to look closely at the current situation starting with organizational matters: the power vertical, the role of the Vitebsk concern Meat and Dairy Products, the participation of the Agriculture and Food Ministry, and choosing two to three most underperforming agricultural enterprises for the heads of district administrations to be personally responsible for them.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted: “What about the performance discipline in the realization of the plans and programs developed and approved by the oblast administration and the central government? I didn’t interfere in this work and granted you all the powers you’d wanted. A great deal was said about it in the past and at the beginning of the year: powers, authority. You’ve been given them.”
Heads of all the organizations of the Glubokoye agribusiness structure, directors of the agribusiness associations themselves, representatives of the oblast administration and district administrations were summoned for the conference. Aleksandr Lukashenko decided to hear out Vitebsk Oblast Governor Aleksandr Subbotin first. “Not a rookie in this kind of business. He closely oversaw these matters when he was a deputy prime minister. And now we’ve taken a look from the oblast governor’s level. The oblast administration had to review and authorize business plans on the development of these associations by 1 March. Notably together with the local district administrations and your concern. So there was plenty of time to dive deep into the problems,” the president believes.
The head of state asked Agriculture and Food Minister Igor Brylo to report the human resources situation and the ministry’s role in the development of the experiment in Vitebsk Oblast.
“We will hear out former and current authors, individual executives,” Aleksandr Lukashenko added.
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