How the president’s instruction to change the tactics of land reclamation is being fulfilled has been explained by Chairman of the Regional Policy and Local Self-Government Commission of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Leonid Zayats, BelTA has learned.
“The task the president wanted us to complete in 2021-2025 has been successfully completed. Reclamation measures were carried out on an area of 416,000 hectares while the target was 412,000 hectares. Additionally, 75,000 hectares were reclaimed for agricultural use over the five-year period. In the five-year period of 2026-2030 it is necessary to carry out a set of reclamation measures on an area of 431,000 hectares. This is a huge area. Understanding that every kopeck must be accounted for today, it is proposed, taking into account the president’s demand, to reclaim for agricultural use high-quality lands in undrained territory that have become overgrown with bushes. The target of 431,000 hectares will be hit. We will only reallocate resources to make sure that these high-quality lands, which are located in almost all regions of our republic, are once again used as part of agriculture. There are 45,600 hectares of these lands,” said Leonid Zayats.
The reallocation of resources is necessary for cultural and technical land amelioration. “Some of the land will be cleared of bushes and plowed and in some places drainage will need to be laid. All of it together will lead to the fact that during the current five-year period we will completely get rid of wild vegetation in our drained and undrained lands,” emphasized the chairman of the Regional Policy and Local Self-Government Commission of the Council of the Republic.
He pointed out that the implementation of this plan by land reclamation organizations and agricultural enterprises will ensure better contours of fields, increase labor productivity, and reduce material costs of tillage. “During the past five-year period we carried out a huge amount of work. The most difficult areas have already been reclaimed and put in order. Therefore, we can reallocate the financial resources allocated for land reclamation as part of the total volume. This will be beneficial for agricultural enterprises and land users, and we will also save state budget funds,” noted Leonid Zayats. He suggested that these measures would save about Br92 million.
BelTA reported earlier that during a working trip to Krasnopolye District, Mogilev Oblast on 14 April Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko stated it is necessary to change the tactics of land reclamation.
