The event was attended by Chief Scientific Secretary of the NASB Presidium, Corresponding Member of the NAS of Belarus Aleksandr V. Kilchevsky; Deputy General Director of the Scientific and Practical Center for Arable Farming of the NAS of Belarus Dmitry V. Luzhinsky; First Deputy General Director for Science of the Scientific and Practical Center on Animal Husbandry of the NAS of Belarus, the NASB Academician Ivan P. Shejko; Deputy General Director for Science of the Scientific and Practical Center for Potato, Vegetable and Fruit Growing of the NAS of Belarus Vadim L. Makhanko; Deputy General Director for Science of the Scientific and Practical Center for Foodstuffs Aleksandr A. Shepshelev; Deputy General Director for the Implementation and Testing of the Scientific and Practical Center for Agriculture Mechanization of the NAS of Belarus Dmitry I. Komlach.
The Deputy General Director of the Scientific and Practical Center for Arable Farming of the NAS of Belarus Dmitry V. Luzhinsky told reporters that Belarusian scientists were working to develop new varieties of wheat for pasta industry. He reported that the country had derived solid varieties of wheat which were of high quality for the production of pasta, for example the sort Slavyanka which was registered and allowed to grow that year. One more sort of solid varieties suitable for high-quality pasta is expected to enter the market within the next two or three years.
Deputy General Director for Science of the Scientific and Practical Center for Potato, Vegetable and Fruit Growing of the NAS of Belarus Vadim L. Makhanko said that large crop of potatoes would be harvested in Belarus that year and it would cause a decrease in its prices. He also said that about 11% of the areas under potato had already been harvested and potato yield was 3-5 tons per hectare more than previous year. Tolochin district of Vitebsk region is a record holder in potato yield having 41-42 tons per hectare. Vadim Makhanko noted that potato of the Belarusian selection had returned to Russian Sakhalin where 40 hectares under potato were expected to provide rich harvest.