OREANDA-NEWS. August 30, 2010.  It is necessary to focus on signing long-term contracts for selling agricultural products, said President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko during his working trip to Gomel Oblast on 30 August.

The head of state remarked that he was primarily interested in matters of corn and potatoes in Gomel Oblast. According to Alexander Lukashenko, this year’s profitability of potato farming is extremely high – up to 100%. “Even oil processing can’t be that profitable,” said Alexander Lukashenko.

Speaking about corn, the President reminded that in its time the government decided on stepping up corn growing. The practice demonstrates the decision was not a mistake. While in 2005 areas under corn were close to 480,000 hectares, in recent years the figure stands at about 800,000 hectares.

The head of state underlined that it was necessary to aim for a complete potato and corn production cycles, with seeds grown domestically.

According to the President, the situation on the global market of agricultural products will become only more complicated, partly due to the fast growth of the population across the globe. This is why agriculture needs sufficient attention. It is necessary to clearly define what Belarus will do, said Alexander Lukashenko. He pointed out that it is necessary to grab the opportunities the market offers at present and to focus on signing long-term contracts with foreign partners to sell Belarusian agricultural products. “We should know concrete customers and sign contracts with them,” believes the head of state.

Alexander Lukashenko drew attention to the state of vegetable storage facilities. “We should not manufacture if we cannot store products,” said the Belarusian head of state. Alexander Lukashenko urge to pay as much attention as possible to preserving the harvest starting with silage and ending with vegetables and fruits.

Alexander Lukashenko pointed out that it is necessary to buy all the agricultural products that people want to sell at a fair price.

Speaking about trends on the global market of agricultural products, the head of state said he believes the situation will be similar the next year. “We need to make plans for areas under crops so that we could earn good money next year,” said Alexander Lukashenko.