I expect this year’s harvest to surpass the record set in 2025, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said during a working trip to Zhitkovichi District on 14 August, BelTA has learned.

The head of state heard a report from the Gomel Oblast governor on the progress of harvesting campaign in the country’s southern region. According to the report, 95% of the areas sown with grains, legumes, and rapeseed have been harvested in the region. More than 980,000 tonnes of cereal crops alone have been collected, and the region is set to hit the one-million-tonne milestone as early as on 15 August, which is a strong indicator for the area. The expected gross grain harvest stands at 1.051 million tonnes, up 20,000 tonnes from the 2025 level. With the corn harvest projected to reach 450,000 tonnes, the region aims to hit an aggregate grain yield of 1.5 million tonnes.

Work continues to clear fields of straw and prepare the land for winter crop planting. The president issued a strict warning regarding winter rapeseed cultivation, emphasizing that farming protocols must be followed to the letter, with the proper application of fertilizers, pesticides, and growth regulators. This is the only way to protect crops under any weather conditions and secure a solid harvest in the future.

The governor also reported an increase in agricultural production for January-July of 2026 by more than 18% compared to the same period in 2025.

The president recalled that he had set last year’s record 2025 harvest as the benchmark for the country’s farmers.

“Last year was a record one. I have set it as a benchmark, after all. If we see growth nationwide compared to last year, that is already good, a positive dynamic. Therefore, it is crucial that we build upon last year’s results. It was a very high, record-breaking year,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized

The harvest situation in Zhitkovichi District was also discussed. According to the Chairman of the Zhitkovichi District Executive Committee Vladimir Antonenko, the yield increased by 6.8 centners per hectare compared to the 2025 level, reaching 43.9 centners per hectare. “For the Polesie region as a whole, that is a fairly good figure,” the head of state said.

“So, this year is better than the last?” Aleksandr Lukashenko clarified and received an affirmative answer.

“From your perspective, what is missing in Polesie to ensure that the development program we recently adopted for the Polesie region does not go to waste?” the president continued.

“We have everything we need. What we need is discipline and compliance with technology,” the head of the district replied, adding that he sees no major issues in the region’s development.

“There are always problems, but you say there are none because they must be solved locally. Every possible issue that could be addressed by the state and central authorities has already been resolved to the absolute maximum,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized. The president pointed out that with this level of support and assistance, agricultural organizations must deliver corresponding results, and in any case, perform no worse than private family farms.

“When things are going well for him [farmer Mikhail Shrub, whose farm the president visited], but somewhere things are going poorly for you [in the district’s subordinated agricultural organizations], the question arises – why? Why not learn from him? He is a goldmine of knowledge. Just come and copy it,” the head of state said.