OREANDA-NEWS. On 8 September 2009 was announced, that Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko has instructed domestic design bureaus to develop a few model farms by 2010, the press service of the president reported following Lukashenko’s visit to the Brest Region.

“We need three or four model farm designs to start building standards farms – they must be efficient and cheap. If someone offers a cheaper yet more efficient version, they are welcome to start construction.”

Commenting on the possibility to invite guest workers, including from Ukraine, Lukashenko said there were no bans as long as Belarusian farms engage good specialists. “These are objective economic conditions, this is competition.”

It is planned to build 16 dairy farms in the Brest Region by October 1.

Lukashenko reiterated that Belarus should stop purchasing machinery with a high share of foreign components, provided that domestic makers offer machinery with a higher degree of localization.

Agriculture Minister Semyon Shapiro informed the president that grain harvesting had almost been completed, and daily sugar beet harvesting amounted to 28,000 tonnes.