KOBRIN, 21 September (BelTA) – In the next five years Belarus’ agriculture should reach the European standards, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said during the agricultural festival Dazhynki 2009 on 19 September, BelTA learnt from the presidential press service. The town of Kobrin hosted the festival this year. Alexander Lukashenko went to the Brest oblast to celebrate the holiday and visit the facilities built ahead of the festival. The Belarusian leader visited a new ice arena and a hotel. The President was briefed that the oblast upgraded 410 facilities, laid engineer networks and built 120 kilometers of roads. Besides, it constructed an aqua park with a balneary, an amphitheatre and an ice arena. Over Br420 billion have been allocated to implement the projects. The head of state took stock of the tourism development in the Brest oblast. According to Governor of the oblast Konstantin Sumar, a lot has been gone to develop agro-ecotourism in the oblast. In 2009 there were 113 farm estates as against 6 in 2006. In 2008 the oblast provided almost Br20 billion worth of tourist services, and almost Br12 billion worth of services in January- July 2009. Alexander Lukashenko paid attention to the fact that the improvement of the Dazhynki host-towns should not be stopped after the holiday is celebrated. The President instructed the State Control Committee and the Presidential Administration to check the towns that hosted the national festival before. Alexander Lukashenko noted that within the next five years Belarus should reach the European standards in the agricultural production and modernize the whole agricultural industry. “We have no time for swinging. In the next five years it is necessary for the Belarusian agriculture to reach the European standards. The most important factors here are efficiency and the development pace, an ability to address the needs of the domestic and global markets. These issues should be brought to the forefront of the rural revival programme 2011-2015 that is already being developed by our scientists and experts of the profile state organizations,” the head of state said. According to the President, to reach the goal it is necessary to be more active in implementing innovations in the agricultural industry. “Our best farms can be cited as a good example. We should make everything possible to use their experience across the board,” he stressed. The Belarusian leader said that the system of supporting the agricultural sector has altered. “In the future we will leave aside subsidies. The base we are to create within the next five years will secure self-financing of the agricultural sector,” he said. At the same time it does not mean the state will not put funds in the agricultural development. “The resources, however, will be allocated to implement the state programmes only,” Alexander Lukashenko said. The President paid attention to the necessity to ensure a high technical level in the rural area, to complete the upgrade of the agricultural companies and build agro-towns. Great attention has been recently paid to develop the social area in the rural sector. More than 33,000 homes and apartments have been built over the last years. As for the budget 2010, the head of state noted that the social spending would not be revised downward. БЕЛТА
Written by belta.by
