Regional Agricultural Production: buckwheat crops to be increased 2.5 times in Vitebsk region
Farmers in the Chashniki district were among the first to start plowing. Among the first swallows on the fresh plowing are tractor drivers from OAO "Prozemle-Agro". We meet with the Deputy Head of the District Agricultural Production Department, Oleg Malakhovsky, on the territory of the mechanical workshops in Prozemle. But while we were driving, a real blizzard broke out...
— We were unlucky with the weather today, — laments the head. — We are forced to stop field work throughout the district. And yet, there is a lot to be done. The total sown area is 12.5 thousand hectares. True, more than half is already under winter crops, but about 4.7 thousand (including corn for grain) are to be sown in the spring. Before the snow returned, we managed to fertilize about 500 hectares of winter crops and plow 150. The equipment for the mass start is ready, there are enough fertilizers and seeds.
— An excellent crop! — Maxim Scrabnevsky is convinced. — Our soils like it. You sow it and, essentially, forget about it until autumn. Millet also grows wonderfully. So, "exclusive" plantations are our forte.
Indeed, in the northernmost region of the country, which has long been firmly established as a zone of risky agriculture, various options are being sought to increase the efficiency of the agricultural sector. There are no other options here.
…The snow, which had stopped for a moment, is falling again, as if from a sieve. It covers the freshly plowed land. As if testing the farmers for patience and professional endurance. And the machine operator Vladimir Zhilinsky, for the umpteenth time, sweeps away the thick snowflakes from the hood of his "Belarus" with a wide gesture of his hand. Combat readiness is an important aspect: no matter how much winter resists, you can't argue with nature. Soon it will be back to the field, it won't wait…
"SB"
— We were unlucky with the weather today, — laments the head. — We are forced to stop field work throughout the district. And yet, there is a lot to be done. The total sown area is 12.5 thousand hectares. True, more than half is already under winter crops, but about 4.7 thousand (including corn for grain) are to be sown in the spring. Before the snow returned, we managed to fertilize about 500 hectares of winter crops and plow 150. The equipment for the mass start is ready, there are enough fertilizers and seeds.
In recent years, the Chashniki district has been among the first in the region to start sowing and finish harvesting among the top five leaders. How will it turn out this season? It's too early to predict. But here, everything has been thought out and calculated in advance. This includes the wages of those involved in sowing, for which there is a corresponding decision of the district executive committee. During the spring field work, over a dozen machine operators from sponsoring enterprises and organizations are involved to help the villagers.
Therefore, the Prozemlye farmers do not waste time in bad weather: they check plows and seeders more often, and work on fodder harvesting equipment. This saved time will be very useful later. They joke that advanced machine operator Vladimir Zhilinsky is watching the weather with particular impatience: he is fussing around his new "Belarus," which was covered in snow overnight.
Maxim Skrabnevsky, deputy director of OAO "Prozemle-Agro," smiles understandingly: this spring is approximately Vladimir's 15th sowing season. This year, he was the first to rush into the field for plowing, and he did it on his own initiative, without being ordered. He showed useful initiative, energizing everyone else.
— What about me? I didn't do anything... — Zhilinsky seems to be justifying himself. — There was fuel in the tank, so I decided to just check the plows… I spotted a more or less dry hillock while moving the tractor — and then it just started!
The next day, everyone "started," but the weather sharply slowed down the farmers' enthusiasm. Almost a week of downtime after the start.
— We'll make up for it, — the Prozemlye residents are not discouraged.
Maxim Skrabnevsky reasons like a manager: the more the delay now, the more actively we will have to work later to avoid missing the optimal deadlines.
— We have high hopes for buckwheat, — notes the deputy director. — We have taken on the entire district plan for this crop — we will have to sow 200 hectares.
It turns out that buckwheat has long been a favorite crop for the farmers of "Prozemle-Agro." They started cultivating it about five years ago — initially for the needs of the local apiary. Gradually, they expanded the areas. And then, when the President demanded attention to this strategic food crop
of the country's food security, they took up this crop seriously. The yield in 2022 was about 20 centners per hectare. It was sold without problems and very profitably.
Therefore, the Prozemlye farmers do not waste time in bad weather: they check plows and seeders more often, and work on fodder harvesting equipment. This saved time will be very useful later. They joke that advanced machine operator Vladimir Zhilinsky is watching the weather with particular impatience: he is fussing around his new "Belarus," which was covered in snow overnight.
Maxim Skrabnevsky, deputy director of OAO "Prozemle-Agro," smiles understandingly: this spring is approximately Vladimir's 15th sowing season. This year, he was the first to rush into the field for plowing, and he did it on his own initiative, without being ordered. He showed useful initiative, energizing everyone else.
— What about me? I didn't do anything... — Zhilinsky seems to be justifying himself. — There was fuel in the tank, so I decided to just check the plows… I spotted a more or less dry hillock while moving the tractor — and then it just started!
The next day, everyone "started," but the weather sharply slowed down the farmers' enthusiasm. Almost a week of downtime after the start.
— We'll make up for it, — the Prozemlye residents are not discouraged.
Maxim Skrabnevsky reasons like a manager: the more the delay now, the more actively we will have to work later to avoid missing the optimal deadlines.
— We have high hopes for buckwheat, — notes the deputy director. — We have taken on the entire district plan for this crop — we will have to sow 200 hectares.
It turns out that buckwheat has long been a favorite crop for the farmers of "Prozemle-Agro." They started cultivating it about five years ago — initially for the needs of the local apiary. Gradually, they expanded the areas. And then, when the President demanded attention to this strategic food crop
— An excellent crop! — Maxim Scrabnevsky is convinced. — Our soils like it. You sow it and, essentially, forget about it until autumn. Millet also grows wonderfully. So, "exclusive" plantations are our forte.
Indeed, in the northernmost region of the country, which has long been firmly established as a zone of risky agriculture, various options are being sought to increase the efficiency of the agricultural sector. There are no other options here.
…The snow, which had stopped for a moment, is falling again, as if from a sieve. It covers the freshly plowed land. As if testing the farmers for patience and professional endurance. And the machine operator Vladimir Zhilinsky, for the umpteenth time, sweeps away the thick snowflakes from the hood of his "Belarus" with a wide gesture of his hand. Combat readiness is an important aspect: no matter how much winter resists, you can't argue with nature. Soon it will be back to the field, it won't wait…
COMPETENTLY
The Committee for Agriculture and Food of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee informed the correspondent of "SG" that agricultural enterprises of the region plan to sow 4 thousand hectares of buckwheat, which is 2.5 times more than last year. The areas for millet are also increasing to 2 thousand hectares. Before the "return of winter," farmers managed to fertilize 8.9 thousand hectares of winter cereals and about 2.1 thousand hectares of cruciferous crops. 400 hectares have been plowed. Unfortunately, field work has been stopped in most districts of the region due to poor weather conditions so far.