OREANDA-NEWS. December 19, 2012. Mikhail Myasnikovich reminded that in accordance with the revised plan as many as 1,208 dairy farms have to be reconstructed and upgraded. The Prime Minister said that the dairy farms should be overhauled, spit and polish repairs were not acceptable. In line with the modernization program it is necessary to have 188 modern dairy farms in Brest Oblast, 228 ones in Vitebsk Oblast, 191 in Gomel Oblast, 170 in Mogilev Oblast, 108 in Grodno Oblast, and 323 dairy farms in Minsk Oblast.

Belarusian Agriculture and Food Minister Mr Leonid Zayats remarked that following the relevant instruction of the head of state the farms are being modernized primarily at the expense of proprietary funds of the agricultural enterprises, with modern milking equipment installed by default. The majority of the farms are scheduled for commissioning in December 2012. At present reconstruction is in progress at 995 farms out of 1,208 ones. The work has not started at some farms.

Government had taken the necessary measures to enable financing, buy the milking equipment, and make the construction materials and design work affordable. As much as Br2.3 trillion in financial resources is available. “Finance is available, the equipment is available. It is necessary to take measures to accomplish the work in line with the instruction issued by the head of state,” said Leonid Zayats. Virtually every oblast has reserves to utilize. But the fact is that the program for modernizing the dairy farms has yet to be accomplished. The Agriculture and Food Minister believes that they had not acted fast enough to grasp the situation and mobilize resources fast. Apart from Brest Oblast and Minsk Oblast no other oblast will be able to finish the modernization of the dairy farms on time. Out of the targeted number of 1,208 farms as few as 387 farms have been commissioned, with 723 farms scheduled for commissioning by the end of the month.