Lukashenka: Food deficit and price growth is inevitable

Alyaksandr Lukashenka said yesterday food deficit and price growth in Belarus was inevitable. He related this to “the world food crisis,” not to the actions of the government. According to him, only summer cottages gardens can save the Belarusians from food shortage.

As Lukashenka said to the newly appointed “representatives of top-down command structure in regions,” world food price growth couldn’t but affect the prices in the republic. “We can’t artificially restrain food prices in the country. If we keep food prices down, these products will be exported from Belarus, because they will cost two or three times more in the neighbouring counties. So our country should use an opportunity and earn some money,” he said.

“People need normal wages, we can’t allow their living standard to decline. We have already set an appropriate task. Wages, equivalent to 500 dollars, will be not enough for us, we need to achieve 700 dollars, and perhaps, come to 1000 dollars within 5 years,” Lukashenka said.

Lukashenka emphasised people should be ready for different variants of development the economic situation in the world. “Belarus provides itself with all main food products almost hundred per cent. However, the deficit is inevitable. The prices abroad will be extremely high. Experts denounce 100 per cent increase in world food prices,” he noted.

According to him, it is crucial to orient our people to preserving of private plots. “The situation is difficult everywhere. In no case should we slaughter all cattle in Belarus. While a private plot can be a good help,” he said.