The Illusion of the Soviet Past: How Lukashenko the Collective Farm Director Destroyed Belarus's Agriculture

https://youtu.be/fG125sRDplM

Pavel Latushka: Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus, Representative of the Cabinet for the Transition of Power, Head of the National Anti-Crisis Management, Leader of the "Latushka Team and the Movement 'For Freedom'" faction within the 3rd convocation of the Coordination Council.

Not long ago, Lukashenko once again demonstrated to the country and to the world that his economic vision is hopelessly mired in the deep Soviet past.

The dictator announced a new "brilliant" strategy for saving agriculture — the accelerated revival of district agro-service centres (rayagrosservisy). Those very same Soviet-era district agricultural machinery stations (selkhoztekhniki) in every district. In his own words, "something needs to be put together in a hurry" even in such small districts.

This is an attempt to conceal the catastrophic shortage of personnel, appalling mismanagement, and the mass impoverishment of agricultural enterprises. When there is no one left in agricultural companies to fix a tractor, and no money to do so, the regime's solution is to create a centralised bureaucratic monster to patch over the holes.

Let us look at the real situation. In Vitebsk Oblast alone, for instance, there is a shortfall of 20% of the established headcount of livestock specialists and veterinarians, and 17% of machine operators. More than 420 vacancies have remained unfilled for over a year. The personnel deficit has been identified as a foundational, system-wide problem for the agro-industrial sector in the region. This was reported by the Vitebsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office at a special meeting convened for this purpose. Law enforcement officials noted that young specialists complain of poor working conditions, excessive workloads, and no days off. And what solution did the meeting participants propose? Perhaps raising wages and improving working conditions? No. The Prosecutor's Office issued directives to local authorities and once again punished everyone across the board.

Another problem in agriculture is that there will soon be nothing left to repair. According to official Belstat data alone, over the period from 2020 to 2024, the vehicle and machinery fleet of agricultural organisations suffered colossal losses. The country lost:

• 2,892 tractors;

• 2,141 trucks;

• 1,169 grain combine harvesters;

• 471 forage combine harvesters.

Where did this equipment go? It rotted away or was stripped for spare parts.

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