Nikolai Sherstnev on the strategy for the development of the agro-industrial complex of the Vitebsk region: 2022 should be a turning point
Grain harvesting in the Vitebsk region has been completed, and the collection of vegetable crops is underway. On the eve of the rural workers' holiday, the head of the region summarized preliminary results at a press conference with representatives of regional and national media. According to the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, the concluding harvesting campaign has shown that good results can be achieved even in anomalous weather conditions. The main thing is to draw the right conclusions from the current situation. "We must extract the maximum positive from negative moments to try to make the next year a turning point in agriculture - this should be the strategy for the development of the region's agro-industrial complex for 2022," emphasized Nikolai Sherstnev.
The head of the region noted that the provision of machinery in the Vitebsk region is a pressing issue. "Annually, about 10% of the agricultural enterprises' vehicle fleet should be replaced. Unfortunately, we are not meeting these standards. However, it should be understood that the machinery itself has changed, its quality has increased, as has its price. Paying large sums for machinery, operating it for about 10 years, and then writing it off is a crime. The focus should be on proper operation. There are examples where machine operators work on the same tractor for 13-15 years, treating it with care. Modern machinery is also more advanced, with electronic and computer equipment, so we need to train machine operators who know programming and precision farming technology," shared the head of the region, adding that the Vitebsk region produces almost all agricultural machinery adapted to local soil - heavier and stony. This is another contribution of farmers to the development of the agro-industrial complex, increasing productivity and efficiency of work on the land.
The livestock industry in the Vitebsk region has strong contrasts. Old farms from the mid-last century are adjacent to new robotic complexes."We need to switch to new technological rails, transition to modern technologies for keeping cattle and milking cows. This will not only yield high results in weight gain and milk yield but also interest people in working in rural areas. We must create conditions to attract people to rural areas," emphasized Nikolai Sherstnev.
The construction of high-tech agro-complexes usually involves projects that are not implemented quickly and have a long payback period. Accordingly, to get a faster result, old farms need to be modernized. "Deep dry bedding and a warm drinker – these conditions for keeping cattle must be maintained everywhere, not to mention the feed base. As a result, high-quality technological organic fertilizer can be obtained, which will be taken to the fields, thereby boosting crop production. For the next five years, the Vitebsk region has the task of maximally reorienting livestock farming to technological rails. Then we can talk about a completely different rural economy," the head of the region emphasized.
Regarding feed provision, in the future, according to the head of the region, it is necessary to increase the sown areas for rapeseed. Despite the fact that it is not the highest yielding crop, it matures early, and after harvesting the seeds, it can be re-sown in the fields to obtain a second harvest per year. Rapeseed is a protein feed, and in May it provides green mass. Moreover, it can be re-sown in July, avoiding the June heat when most plant diseases develop. This crop is planned to be sown in those farms where spring rapeseed yields a small share of the harvest, up to 10 c/ha. Rapeseed, on the other hand, can provide 15-18 c/ha, so in some farms it will displace rapeseed. Also, according to Nikolai Shertnev, it is advisable to more boldly switch to winter barley. Another promising crop for replenishing the region's feed base could be sunflower. This is a high-protein crop, the cultivation of which was widely represented in the region in the past. And the harvesting of corn for grain can reach a new level with the application of new technologies, including crushing, grinding, and chopping of cobs along with the core.
Concurrently with technological development and improvement of the feed base, farm managers must address personnel issues. There is a shortage of personnel in all areas: there is a lack of both management staff in agricultural enterprises, specialists, and workers. In addition to high wages, decent working conditions must be provided. "We have decided not to assign graduates of agricultural universities and colleges to weak farms. Firstly, most young workers leave after mandatory work for any reason. Secondly, in the region, they are starting to prepare children for rural work from school, in agro-classes. They are shown modern complexes where one person can serve up to a thousand heads using robotic equipment. They should come to the best farms. And many of them want to live in the regions and work there, earning a decent salary. Moreover, the environmental aspect is also important. There are examples when city dwellers move to the countryside, create eco-villages, live and work in the fresh air," said the chairman of the regional executive committee.