Lukashenka: Agricultural sector will come under scrutiny

The agricultural sector will come under detailed scrutiny by analogy with the construction industry.

Belarusian President Lukashenka said it as he authorized the appointment of several heads of municipal authorities.

“The commission on construction issues, which is chaired by the head of the Presidential Administration, will soon finish its work in the construction industry and will turn its attention to agriculture. We have invested more than $50 billion in agriculture for the past twelve years. It's annual GDP. Please think about how to make a return. Inspections to the region will be unscheduled. I think we will have a meeting in Vitebsk on these matters. Agro-towns, machine yards, grain facilities, farms, and other facilities will be inspected. We have a bad trend: everybody sits and waits for loans, other handouts. I assure you no one will give you anything,” he said.

"We have shown you how things must be done. We have turned half of the farms into good complexes with the help of the state. So you know what to do,” Lukashenka said.

According to him, as soon as a new dairy farm is built, the environment and people change for the better. In addition, modern large farms allow solving the problem of skills shortage, as fewer people are needed to maintain these farms. "Here is the choice, competition," he said.

“So you need to think about how you live, how you ensure high living standards we aim to have in every regional center. The responsibility will be high. Chairmen of the regional executive committees, heads of the town administrations are not fully involved in addressing the socio-economic and ideological issues in the country. It is my firm belief. You must be the locomotives. Everything should be nice, decent, and clean so that that people should be proud of living in a particular place. This is your job. Authorities should display normal and human attitude to people, without any arrogance. This is your main task,” said the head of state.