The Vitebsk Zonal Institute of Agriculture of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus was among the first in the region to begin potato harvesting
Despite a dry year, the harvest of the "second bread" is good here.
As the chief agronomist of the enterprise, Dmitry Kovalenko, said, this year, like the previous one, potatoes are harvested by their own efforts. Since the end of August, a potato harvester operated by tractor driver-machinist Alexander Terentyev has been working in the урочище with the potato variety Manifest. Two units of equipment are involved in hauling the harvest. The tubers are sent to their own potato storage, where they undergo initial cleaning, and then for 14-20 days they are cured and cooled in a chamber. After the peel of the vegetable hardens and the eyes close, sorting will begin.
Tractor driver-machinist Dmitry Bulokhov and Dmitry Kovalenko are satisfied with the Manifest harvest. It is Manifest, according to Dmitry Kovalenko, that has shown itself to be the most productive in the current extreme weather conditions and quite resistant to drought. Out of 42 hectares allocated for the "second bread" this year, this table variety of potato, which is ideal for frying and boiling, occupies exactly half, which is due to its high demand among the population. An average of 30 tons of tubers are harvested per hectare. Draniki made from Manifest do not darken for up to 6 hours – tested by housewives!
Seed material of domestic selection varieties such as Briz and Skarb is also in demand by buyers. On average, up to 300 tons of potatoes are sold to the population annually. The rest of the products are bought by agricultural organizations, farmers, catering establishments, and educational institutions for their own needs.
In total, the Vitebsk Zonal Institute cultivates 11 varieties of Belarusian selection potatoes in 7 reproductions.
Three new varieties are also being prepared for sale. Umka and Garantia are awaiting their time in the institute's greenhouse complex, and Mastak, a mid-early variety, is in the preliminary multiplication nursery. The Zonal Institute will be one of the first to sell it on the Belarusian market. This is planned for 2024. This autumn, the enterprise will sell potatoes of the Lel variety, which is ideally suitedfor the preparation of chips and french fries. This is a kind of domestic response to foreign counterparts.
As noted by the Scientific Secretary of the Vitebsk Zonal Institute, Oleg Ravbis, employees continue other, no less useful experiments. Two varieties of purple potatoes, created specifically for therapeutic dietary nutrition and successfully presented during the traditional spring tasting, are currently undergoing the necessary tests.
– It's good that the weather has absolutely no effect on the condition of the planting material of our greenhouse complex. Here, everything depends solely on the human factor, timely and high-quality care for the plants, and we have no problems with this at the enterprise, – says Oleg Ravbis.
To harvest, preserve, process, and sell – these are the tasks set for the team regarding the "second bread" by the head of the Vitebsk Zonal Institute, Andrei Balysh.
In parallel with potato harvesting, the enterprise is carrying out sowing of winter crops and preparing the soil for it. About 400 hectares of winter wheat, barley, rye, and triticale are yet to be sown, while the sowing of winter rapeseed has been completed within optimal deadlines. Very soon, the institute's fields will begin harvesting buckwheat. The climatic conditions in the Vitebsk region allow for its harvesting at the end of September – beginning of October. By this time, scientists are confident, buckwheat will have reached the necessary maturity.
In addition, the enterprise's agronomists are selectively harvesting spring rapeseed; as this crop matures, machinery is sent to the plots. This type of work is planned to be fully completed by September 15.
As the chief agronomist of the enterprise, Dmitry Kovalenko, said, this year, like the previous one, potatoes are harvested by their own efforts. Since the end of August, a potato harvester operated by tractor driver-machinist Alexander Terentyev has been working in the урочище with the potato variety Manifest. Two units of equipment are involved in hauling the harvest. The tubers are sent to their own potato storage, where they undergo initial cleaning, and then for 14-20 days they are cured and cooled in a chamber. After the peel of the vegetable hardens and the eyes close, sorting will begin.
Tractor driver-machinist Dmitry Bulokhov and Dmitry Kovalenko are satisfied with the Manifest harvest. It is Manifest, according to Dmitry Kovalenko, that has shown itself to be the most productive in the current extreme weather conditions and quite resistant to drought. Out of 42 hectares allocated for the "second bread" this year, this table variety of potato, which is ideal for frying and boiling, occupies exactly half, which is due to its high demand among the population. An average of 30 tons of tubers are harvested per hectare. Draniki made from Manifest do not darken for up to 6 hours – tested by housewives!
Seed material of domestic selection varieties such as Briz and Skarb is also in demand by buyers. On average, up to 300 tons of potatoes are sold to the population annually. The rest of the products are bought by agricultural organizations, farmers, catering establishments, and educational institutions for their own needs.
In total, the Vitebsk Zonal Institute cultivates 11 varieties of Belarusian selection potatoes in 7 reproductions.
Three new varieties are also being prepared for sale. Umka and Garantia are awaiting their time in the institute's greenhouse complex, and Mastak, a mid-early variety, is in the preliminary multiplication nursery. The Zonal Institute will be one of the first to sell it on the Belarusian market. This is planned for 2024. This autumn, the enterprise will sell potatoes of the Lel variety, which is ideally suitedfor the preparation of chips and french fries. This is a kind of domestic response to foreign counterparts.
As noted by the Scientific Secretary of the Vitebsk Zonal Institute, Oleg Ravbis, employees continue other, no less useful experiments. Two varieties of purple potatoes, created specifically for therapeutic dietary nutrition and successfully presented during the traditional spring tasting, are currently undergoing the necessary tests.
– It's good that the weather has absolutely no effect on the condition of the planting material of our greenhouse complex. Here, everything depends solely on the human factor, timely and high-quality care for the plants, and we have no problems with this at the enterprise, – says Oleg Ravbis.
To harvest, preserve, process, and sell – these are the tasks set for the team regarding the "second bread" by the head of the Vitebsk Zonal Institute, Andrei Balysh.
In parallel with potato harvesting, the enterprise is carrying out sowing of winter crops and preparing the soil for it. About 400 hectares of winter wheat, barley, rye, and triticale are yet to be sown, while the sowing of winter rapeseed has been completed within optimal deadlines. Very soon, the institute's fields will begin harvesting buckwheat. The climatic conditions in the Vitebsk region allow for its harvesting at the end of September – beginning of October. By this time, scientists are confident, buckwheat will have reached the necessary maturity.
In addition, the enterprise's agronomists are selectively harvesting spring rapeseed; as this crop matures, machinery is sent to the plots. This type of work is planned to be fully completed by September 15.