6 November 2026
During a visit to Shklov district on 6 November, Alexander Lukashenko ordered a review of state support for agriculture and an end to “dependency” on the state. He stressed this is not about cuts — “maybe we will even increase money for the countryside” — but aid should go only to those who need it. District executive committee chairs (local authorities) were made responsible for order on all farms.
According to a confidential State Control Committee report described by the Zerkalo news site, Belarusian farm enterprises received almost 7.8 billion Belarusian roubles (about $2.6 billion at the current rate) in support and subsidised loans in 2024, and each rouble of aid produced only 46 kopecks of net profit. Meanwhile the Agriculture Ministry reported that 11.2 million tonnes of grain (including rapeseed and corn) had been harvested by 6 November.
An important detail: the move fits a wider reform — in October Lukashenko spoke of merging, splitting and transferring collective farms (kolkhozes, mostly state-controlled farm enterprises) into private ownership. Less support for loss-making farms may speed up their restructuring or change of owner, but for EU investors such deals remain constrained by sanctions.
Sources: Zerkalo.io, 6 November 2026; BelTA, 6 November 2026; 4esnok.by, 16 October 2026; rate approx. 3 Belarusian roubles per $1.