Volozhin Region
Executive Committee

In January-July 2020, agricultural farms of all kinds (state-run agricultural enterprises, private farmers, subsidiary farms) produced Br9.9 billion worth of goods, which was 2.8% up year-on-year in comparable prices, BelTA learned from the National Statistics Committee.

In January-July 2020, agricultural enterprises made Br9.5 billion worth of products, which was up by 3.3% over the same period of 2019 in comparable prices.

The output of cattle and poultry (in terms of live weight) at farms of all kinds totaled 1,086,000 tonnes (up 4.9%), including 1,047,000 (up 5.4%) in state-run agricultural enterprises. Milk production reached 4,562,000 tonnes (up 5.5%), including 4,417,000 million tonnes (up 6.1%) in state-run agricultural enterprises.

As of 1 August 2020, the number of cattle in agricultural enterprises stood at 4.2 million head (99.5% as against the same period of 2019), including 1.4 million cows (up 0.2%). The number of pigs amounted to 2.6 million head, up 2.3% from 1 August 2019.

Nearly 1,000 forest fires have happened in Belarus since the beginning of the year, BelTA learned from Aleksei Boiko, a consultant with the Forest Management Office of the Belarusian Forestry Ministry.

As of 17 August there had been 986 forest fires with their total area as large as 6.575 million hectares. Most of the fires happened in Brest Oblast (347 fires on an area of 2.3 million hectares) and Gomel Oblast (263 fires on an area of 3.5 million hectares).

This year's situation with forest fires in Belarus has been determined by unusual weather in spring. Sunny weather, gusty winds, the willingness of Belarusians to set old dry grass on fire as a spring cleanup measure, failures to observe fire safety requirements resulted in forestry enterprises having to deal with forest fires as early as mid-March. The first fire in a forest run by the Forestry Ministry was registered on 15 March. It is worth noting that spring fires, fires in April to be exact, accounted for 90% of the entire area of forest fires.

The situation has been stabilized since then. To prevent forest fires, preserve Belarusian forests, and take care of people's safety when they visit forests, municipal authorities promptly introduce restrictions and prohibitions on visiting forests after receiving fire hazard warnings from the national weather service.

This year Forestry Ministry enterprises have built a total of 74,000km of dozer lines, 49.5km of new firebreaks, and have repaired over 1,500km of fire trails. Over 4,000 inspections have been arranged, with 565 people now facing administrative charges.

Over 660 lookout towers are used to detect forest fires early. Of them 623 towers are equipped with video surveillance systems. The introduction of an automated remote system for detecting forest fires early continues.

Belarus' Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei had a phone conversation with Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde on 18 August, BelTA learned from the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“The parties exchanged views on the development of the post-election situation in and around Belarus and discussed the prospects for Belarus' cooperation with the European Union and the OSCE,” the press service said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that Vladimir Makei is scheduled to have a number of telephone calls with his counterparts. For example, in a phone call with Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto the parties exchanged views on the current situation after the presidential election in Belarus and discussed the prospects for further cooperation.

Belarus still has to harvest 12.1% of land under grain and leguminous crops (except for maize, buckwheat and millet), BelTA learned from the Agriculture and Food Ministry.

As of 18 August, grain and leguminous crops were harvested on the area of 1.93 million hectares, or 87.9% of the plan. Brest Oblast has taken the lead fulfilling 98.5% of the harvesting plan (332,400 hectares). Grodno Oblast cropped 97.1% (309,400 hectares), Gomel Oblast harvested 95% of the area (323,200 hectares), Minsk Oblast harvested 94.1% (456,500 hectares), Mogilev Oblast gathered 75.9% (255,500 hectares), Vitebsk Oblast harvested 67.2% (253,800 hectares).

All in all, 7.236 million tonnes of grain was threshed across the country with the average yield at 37.5 centners per hectare (in 2019, the yield as of the same date was 31.7 centners per hectare). Minsk Oblast harvested more than 1.8 million tonnes of grain, Grodno Oblast more than 1.4 million tonnes and Brest Oblast over 1.3 million tonnes.

Flax was harvested on the area of 43,100 hectares (88.6% of the area under this crop).

Some 752,100 tonnes of hay (74.5% of the plan), 12.618 million tonnes of haylage (100.1%) and 642,200 tonnes of silage (3.35%) were stocked. In total, there are plans to procure 9.3 million tonnes of fodder units of grass feed, most of them in Minsk Oblast and Brest Oblast. By this time, 43.5% of the plan has been fulfilled.

In January-June 2020, the real disposable money income of Belarusians came at 105.4% as against the same period of 2019, BelTA learned from representatives of the National Statistics Committee of Belarus.

Salaries accounted for 64.38% of the total money income, revenues from doing business and other gainful activities – 7.3%, transfers to the population (pensions, welfare benefits, scholarships, and other kinds) – 23.5%, property income and other kinds of revenue – 4.9%.

The real disposable money income of individuals is calculated as monetary income minus taxes, duties, and fees adjusted bearing in mind the index of consumer prices for goods and services.

Power in the country should be redistributed via the constitutional process instead of street protests.

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement while talking to employees of Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant (MZKT for short) on 17 August, BelTA has learned.

Aleksandr Lukashenko reminded that work is in progress on ways to amend the country's Constitution in order to redistribute the authority. “We cannot give away this Constitution to god knows who. Because disasters will follow,” he stressed.

Aleksandr Lukashenko assured he is ready to share presidential authority. “A new Constitution is necessary. Two variants have been suggested to me. I've rejected them because they differ little from the current one. Work is in progress on the third variant. Come, sit down, and let's work on the Constitution. We will arrange a referendum, pass the Constitution, and I will hand over my authority in accordance with the Constitution. But not under pressure and not via street protests,” the head of state stated.

“No, I am not a saint. You know my hardline policies. You know the country wouldn't exist without this hard line. You know precisely that I will not offend your kids and will not surrender the country to anyone. It is the most important thing,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.

“I will not live forever. But if you ruin the first president, you are going to ruin it like it was done in neighboring countries, in all the other ones. Belarusians shouldn't do it,” the head of state said.

In Minsk region, as of the morning of August 17, 92% of the area was harvested, according to the Committee on Agriculture and Food of Minsk Oblast Executive Committee.

In total, 1805 thousand tons of grain and leguminous crops have been threshed with an average yield of 40 c / ha.

The leaders are the Slutsk region with 146.5 thousand tons of ground, followed by Kopyl region - 145.5 thousand tons and Nesvizh region - 140.6 thousand tons.

The best in terms of productivity are Nesvizh, Kletsk, Minsk, Dzerzhinsk regions, indicators in the range of 55-67 c/ha.

It is also worth noting that some farms have already completed grain harvesting. In Nesvizh and Kletsk regions, agrarians processed 100% of the area - 140.6 thousand tons and 93.7 thousand tons of grain, respectively. And in the Stolbtsy district - 78.5 thousand tons.

The Belarusian air carrier Belavia will launch charter flights to Tunisia on 20 August, BelTA learned from Belavia's Facebook account.

“Charter flights will be operated to Enfidha (from Minsk, Brest, Gomel and Grodno), Monastir (from Minsk and Vitebsk), and also to Djarba (from Minsk and Mogilev),” the message reads.

Belavia recommends to address travel agencies for details.

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko has commented on the attempts to foment tensions among workers in Belarus and warned that strikes can have a devastating impact on domestic companies in the future.

Aleksandr Lukashenko made this statement as he hosted a session to discuss the construction industry on 14 August, BelTA has learned.

“First of all I would like to say that I am still alive and not abroad, contrary to what our nationalists say. Today is 14 August and we are here to discuss the work of the construction industry,” the head of state said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko stated that there are attempts to stir up tensions among workers. “You know and feel it very well. Of course, workers are the backbone of our country. You have known my position on it. During the pandemic I virtually banned layoffs; I did not allow throwing people into the street. It was hard, but it is still difficult. Construction industry workers are doing a great job; the situation in this sector is better; all of them are busy. However, nevertheless, there are attempts to inflame workers. Our position is clear: we were not trying to coerce anyone to do anything during the difficult pandemic period. We should not hold anyone in this situation, either. If people want to work, let them do it. Here is work, go ahead and start working. If a person does not want to work, we cannot make them do it,” the president said.

The head of state illustrated possible consequences of strikes using specific examples. If Belaruskali suspends operations for several days, this will play into the hands of their major competitors from Russia and Canada. “If they go on strike for two days, their competitors – Russians and Canadians – will give thanks to God and promptly supply to the market what they want to supply,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The same will happen with machinery producers, like MTZ and MAZ. “It is up to you. If you do not make 10 tractors today and if you do not supply them to the market, tomorrow Germans and Americans will come. Russians will also bring their machinery. They will also give thanks to God,” the president noted.

He emphasized that the global economy has just started to recover after the pandemic-related restrictions. “Everyone is fighting for these markets. If we stop, we will never be able to promote our manufacturing industry. Never! We will be pushed into this mire. People should come to understand it: if you want to go on strike - do it, if you want to work – go ahead,” the president said.

“They told me that at MAZ or MTZ around 20 people decided to speak their mind, stopped working and left. Their supervisor told them: okay, guys, you can go, I have enough people here, your salary will go to them. After that, these people returned back to work,” the head of state said.

“You should explain to people that this is the only chance to save their companies. If you save your company, you will be able to provide for your family. You can take a walk in the street. There are thousands of people lining roads. You can join them for a walk. However, the money they will give you there, if any, will last for two days. We know them; we have showed them. The money will be enough for two days. What will be next?” Aleksandr Lukashenko asked.

“This should be explained to people, including to the construction industry empolyees, because construction workers are advanced and active people. However, we should explain to them what will come next. Our construction industry has gone through many challenges. We pulled them from the mire several times. They got orders, work, growth. Go ahead and work,” the president added.

The loaf of the Central region, as of the morning of August 14, weighs 1,648,040 tons, i.e. removed 84% of the area.

It should be noted that some farms have already completed grain harvesting. In Nesvizh and Kletsk regions, the agrarians cultivated 100% of the area - 140 630 and 93 759 tons of grain, respectively.

In addition to Nesvizh region, in the top three Kopyl region, farmers collected 137 319 tons. And Slutsk - 130,719 tons.

The top-list in terms of yield is also headed by Nesvizh region. There, grain growers collect 67 c/ha, then Kletsk - 56 c/ha. The leaders are Minsk and Dzerzhinsk regions, where grain yield is 54 kg/ha. The average yield in Minsk region is 40 c / ha.