Łukašenka slams Hrodna region’s governor over poor farm performance

April 25, BPN. The State Control Committee found violations in 80 percent of the inspected farms in the Hrodna region with livestock mortality at high levels, Alaksandr Łukašenka told officials during his April 24 Hrodna visit.

“Half of the newly built and reconstructed farms do not reach even the regional average level of livestock production,” his press office quoted him as saying.

Łukašenka reminded Uładzimir Karanik, Hrodna region’s head and a former health minister, of the importance of providing the population with locally grown produce. “You have assured me that everything is in order,” he said. “At the same time, your retail chains are flooded with potatoes from Egypt and apples from Russia with prices several times higher.”

A number of industries, including in wood processing, textile, and petrochemical sectors, stalled their growth, he said urging Karanik to ensure a faster economic recovery.

Hrodna region’s GDP amounted to over five billion rubels (about $1.7 billion) in the first three months of 2023, growing by 0.2 percent year on year in comparable prices, according to the official statistics. Transportation fell by over 25 percent, retail trade, by 2.8 percent, while industrial and agricultural production grew by 1.8 and 4.6 percent, respectively.