MINSK, 11 November (BelTA) – More than Br20 trillion has been invested in the agricultural industry of the Minsk oblast for the past five years, the chairman of the agriculture and food committee of the Minsk oblast executive committee, Ivan Shmatko, said during an official ceremony dedicated to the day of workers of agricultural and processing industries. Some Br17 trillion was channeled into upgrade of existing companies and construction of new facilities. New social facilities (hospitals, clubs, schools, new homes) have been constructed in rural areas. The oblast has purchased more than 1,400 combine harvesters, which has allowed reducing the timeframe of a harvesting campaign and improving the working conditions of combine operators. Owing to the financial support of the state and the Minsk oblast executive committee, the oblast has achieved great results: it is the nationwide leader in production of milk, meat, sugar beets, and grain. For example, in January-October this year, the output of milk reached 1.5 million tonnes. The oblast had the grain harvest of more than 2 million tones. Speaking about the prospects and challenges facing the agricultural industry, Ivan Shmatko noted that the main point today is to make companies more profitable, to boost the export potential, improve the quality of products and reduce prime costs. According to him, this can be reached by means of setting up agro-industrial holding companies. Several companies of this kind have already been set up. These are Snov, Dzerzhinsky and other companies. “We will encourage agricultural companies to merge so that every region would have its own holding group,” Ivan Shmatko said. The agricultural industry of the Minsk oblast employs around 100,000 people. Ivan Shmatko thanked the agrarians for their labour, wished them health and successes in work. Eighty-five people were honored today, of them 10 with letters of thanks from the chairman of the Minsk oblast executive committee.

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