PM urges to sort out priorities while fighting ASF

MINSK, 27 August (BelTA) – Belarus needs to sort out priorities carefully while fighting the African swine fever (ASF), Belarusian Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich said at a session of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers that was held on 26 August, BelTA has learnt.

The participants of the session discussed and approved a draft resolution envisaging additional measures to eliminate and prevent the spread of the African swine fever and other animal diseases.

“I suggest sorting our priorities clearly while dealing with this issue. There are two priorities now. The first one is to stop the spread of the disease. We should spare no effort or expense,” the head of government said. The second priority, according to Mikhail Myasnikovich, is to pay compensations to farmers for withdrawing or slaughtering their pigs in the course of the fight against the disease. A single procedure regulating the payment of compensations will be established.

Mikhail Myasnikovich touched upon other topical issues. In particular, the Premier asked banks to lend a hand to agricultural companies that were hit by the African swine fever and give them a two-year deferment of payment on the loans. The Premier believes that it also makes sense to provide soft loans to the affected agricultural companies and farms that need to restore the livestock population.

The head of government drew attention to the construction of burial sites for animals. Many sites are being built disregarding the existing regulations. “There is a lot of mess and chaos there,” Mikhail Myasnikovich said. Therefore, before constructing burial sites for animals, the necessary paperwork should be drafted.