What did farmers treat visitors to at the regional agricultural forum "AgroStart. Territory of Opportunities"?

Anna Titova came from the village of Yakuzhi, Miory district. She brought over 14 types of semi-aged cheeses – all of them were available for tasting. The craftswoman prepares them according to traditional, sometimes even forgotten, recipes and offers people to discover new flavors.

– In my opinion, the most unique is Carpathian brynza. It is a young soft cheese that can be used as a spice for any product. And to make it tastier, I suggest trying my products with crackers and honey, – says Anna.

The villager invited us to join the tasting as well. We didn't refuse – it was delicious!

The Orsha district pleased with meat products – a crowd gathered around the stand, eager to taste the delicious treats. Among the sliced meats were corned beef, sausages, and salo. Those who wished to try the products were given insights into the production secrets by Kristina Natalevich, a representative of the Orsha region, who gladly shared details about the preparation process.

– We see that people like our products. Our stores are currently only available in Orsha, but we plan to expand the geography of our supplies. We are focusing on Vitebsk and Minsk, – the young woman clarifies.

After a hearty snack, it's time for sweets. Alik Pechenka invited everyone to taste honey. His apiary is located in the picturesque village of Luzhki, Sharkovshchinsky district, in the Mnyuta river floodplain. The assortment includes honey with lemon, lime, blackcurrant, and cranberry from Yelnya, as well as propolis. The farmer not only produces an eco-friendly and healthy product but also organizes honey steaming sessions for guests of his agro-ecotourism estate. After the bathhouse, he offers rye kvass with honey. The "VV" correspondents also tried it – it's an excellent drink for quenching thirst in the summer.

The main goal of the event is to showcase the agricultural potential of the Vitebsk region. Participants included not only farmers but also students from agricultural classes and colleges. For the students, this exhibition was an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with farms and understand that rural life is promising in its own way.

Elena Borzdyko, First Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee's Economy Committee:

- There are 189 agro-ecotourism estates operating in the Vitebsk region, which were visited by over 42,000 tourists last year. Agro-ecotourism estates have reached a high level of operation, offering a wide range of services: catering, organizing excursions in cooperation with travel agencies and various events for guests, master classes, and crafts. By the way, the average stay of a person at an agro-ecotourism estate is 4 days, while for the region as a whole, it is 2 days, including sanatoriums, travel agencies, and hotels.
There are prospects for the development of rural tourism, facilitated by a simplified registration procedure, preferential taxation (1 basic unit per month), and preferential lending from Belagroprombank. Moreover, urban residents today have a trend towards environmentally friendly recreation.

Yuri Semenov, Chairman of the Board of the Vitebsk Regional Farmers Association, Head of the Peasant Farm "Rodnik" (Shumilinsky district):

There are just over 400 farmers operating in the Vitebsk region. Their activities are very diverse, including the production of grain, potatoes, fruits, berries, mushrooms, rabbit farming, and goat farming. The task for all agricultural producers, regardless of their ownership structure, is to ensure the country's food security. Farmers hold a significant share in the production of potatoes, vegetables, fruits, and berries. For example, the largest onion producer in the Vitebsk region is KFH "Varmas".

Our farm "Rodnik" is among the top three producers of elite grass seeds in the Vitebsk region. In 2023, we achieved the highest grass seed yield in Belarus, at 19.7 centners per hectare. We also have a good milk production rate of 7,000 kg per year. This result has never been achieved in the entire history of the Shumilino district.

Vitebskiye Vesti