04.05.2012
Lukashenko cautious about privatization in agriculture
CHERVEN DISTRICT, 4 May (BelTA) – President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko is wary of privatization of Belarusian agricultural companies. He made this statement during a working trip to Cherven District, Minsk Oblast, on 4 May, BelTA has learnt.
“There are plenty of people wanting to get a business, produce and sell meat and milk, because the markets of Kazakhstan and Russia are now open and you can sell wherever you want. I am very cautious about privatization in this field, however we should suggest that people who started working here and are doing a good job should expand their business; they are our people,” the President said.
“The greatest value is land. Therefore he (an investor – BelTA’s note) should be given a good farm so that he would run this business and make money” Alexander Lukashenko said as he visited a dairy farm of the Unibox joint venture, a branch of Agro-Box-Zootekh.
“We should allocate up to 7,000-10,000 hectares. If he has 10,000, he will not want to do anything else taking into consideration today’s market environment and logistics,” the President said.
“This is how privatization in agriculture should look like: easy, no pressure, no land withdrawal from peasants, a triple increase in their wages,” the head of state said.
The President was informed that people are returning to the village located near the company. “That is our way: people want to come back here and live a decent life and the land is farmed. We should not be afraid to give business to such people,” Alexander Lukashenko underlined.
The branch of Agro-Box-Zootekh specializes in the production of milk and cattle. The profitability of sales reaches 47%.
“There are plenty of people wanting to get a business, produce and sell meat and milk, because the markets of Kazakhstan and Russia are now open and you can sell wherever you want. I am very cautious about privatization in this field, however we should suggest that people who started working here and are doing a good job should expand their business; they are our people,” the President said.
“The greatest value is land. Therefore he (an investor – BelTA’s note) should be given a good farm so that he would run this business and make money” Alexander Lukashenko said as he visited a dairy farm of the Unibox joint venture, a branch of Agro-Box-Zootekh.
“We should allocate up to 7,000-10,000 hectares. If he has 10,000, he will not want to do anything else taking into consideration today’s market environment and logistics,” the President said.
“This is how privatization in agriculture should look like: easy, no pressure, no land withdrawal from peasants, a triple increase in their wages,” the head of state said.
The President was informed that people are returning to the village located near the company. “That is our way: people want to come back here and live a decent life and the land is farmed. We should not be afraid to give business to such people,” Alexander Lukashenko underlined.
The branch of Agro-Box-Zootekh specializes in the production of milk and cattle. The profitability of sales reaches 47%.