It will be necessary to revisit the matter of seeds and crop varieties of Belarusian selection once the harvesting campaign is over. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement during a working trip to Berestovitsa District, Grodno Oblast, BelTA has learned.

The head of state drew attention to the matter when he visited Kamenets District at the beginning of the week and raised it one more time now. Belarusian agriculture uses a large number of imported seeds for now. Seeds of domestic selection are also available but they are inferior to imports in various parameters in a number of cases.

Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “It is necessary to work with scientists. It is necessary to give them a nudge. Once harvesting is over, it will be necessary to revisit this matter. We will gather up at my level and will look into it and think about it. It is necessary to give scientists a shake. That's it. We have to look into it separately. They should get ready. Instead of simply saying what heroes they are they should identify what is bad.”

If everything was fine, Belarusian agricultural enterprises would not have to buy imported seeds, Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked. Moreover, they are more expensive than Belarusian ones.

“This is why we need to sort out the seed material. And for all the crops at that,” he stressed.

“And secondly, we have to think about what else we can sow as early as possible in addition to winter rapeseed and barley. Particularly in the north. Until we change the crop rotation and until we find the necessary crops, they [northern areas] will flounder. And of course, we need discipline and order,” the head of state added.