Alexander Subbotin: The best result on the land is achieved by those who strictly adhere to the technology

The regional festival-fair of agricultural workers "Dazhynki-2023" was held in Sharkovshchyna. Although the agricultural season in the northern region will not end soon, a certain summary can already be made. Journalists did this together with the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Subbotin.

— Alexander Mikhailovich, this year has been harsh for our grain growers. Will the harvested crop be enough to meet the region's needs and fulfill the state order?

— Indeed, it can be called a true test of resilience. At the start of the season, all necessary measures were taken to achieve good results in crop production. We sowed 131 thousand hectares of spring grain and leguminous crops, 85 thousand hectares of corn for silage, and 50 thousand hectares of annual grasses within optimal agro-technical deadlines.

Due to weather factors, the gross harvest of grain and leguminous crops decreased by 40 percent compared to last year. We managed to collect 623.1 thousand tons with an average yield of 24.2 centners per hectare. In 2022, we threshed over a million tons, with an average yield of 30.1 centners per round. However, last year's conditions, as you recall, were exceptionally favorable to our farmers.

For the needs of the state, our agricultural organizations must deliver 109 thousand tons of grain this year – less than 20 percent of the volume received. At the same time, it is evident that the harvested crop is insufficient to provide concentrated feed for public animal husbandry. A decision has been made to purchase the missing volume of feed grain – about 150 thousand tons – from the Russian Federation.

— Will corn help compensate for the shortfall in grain?

— Weather conditions hindered the growth and development of all agricultural crops without exception, including corn. Therefore, many farms took this step: to harvest part of the sown area for grain as green fodder. As a result, the harvested area of corn decreased from 9 to 6 thousand hectares. The expected gross grain harvest will be about 30 thousand tons, while last time we threshed 41.6 thousand.

— Has the distribution of harvest leaders changed significantly, and which districts managed to

— This year's conditions have once again confirmed that the best results on the land are achieved by those who strictly adhere to technology, widely use the achievements of agricultural science, cultivate high-yielding crop varieties, and operate high-performance machinery. Therefore, no radical changes have occurred in this regard. Stable high grain yields are achieved in Vitebsk, Postavy, Orsha, Dubrovno, Verkhnedvinsk, and Tolochin districts.

— Are any changes planned in the sowing structure for next year's harvest?

— Recently, nature has been presenting surprises, therefore, it is necessary to draw conclusions and restructure the work of the crop production sector to minimize dependence on weather factors. To achieve this, first and foremost, it is necessary to maximize the areas under winter cereals and cruciferous crops, and winter rapeseed. At the same time, the layering of agricultural work should be avoided, ensuring timely technical re-equipment is mandatory.

— What agricultural work is currently in focus?

— The priority is the sowing of winter cereals; the harvesting of corn, potatoes, open-ground vegetables, buckwheat, the application of organic and mineral fertilizers, and other field work are under control.

— High rates have been achieved in sowing winter crops. What stake is the region placing on these crops?

— Indeed, as of September 28, winter cereals have been sown on an area of 155.6 thousand hectares, which is 68 percent of the plan. This is 29 percent higher than last year's level. Traditionally, winter crops yield more than spring cereals, so we decided to increase their acreage. If in 2022, 208 thousand hectares of winter cereals were sown, this year it is planned to sow 22 thousand hectares more.

— An equally important issue is fodder harvesting. Will it be possible to create the necessary reserves, considering the shortfall in volume at the beginning of summer?

— All measures have been taken in the region to carry out the procurement of forage crops at a high organizational level. The progress of this work is discussed twice a week via video conference with the participation of the leadership of the regional executive committee and district executive committees.
Also, considering the extremely difficult situation with the provision of forage crops for public animal husbandry for the upcoming winter stall period, a set of additional measures aimed at intensifying forage procurement was adopted in August.

I would like to note that the situation has improved since then. The lag from the 2022 level in terms of forage procurement per conventional head of cattle has decreased from 4.78 centners as of August 24 to 2.45 centners as of September 28. As of this date, 17.05 centners of forage crops per conventional head of cattle, in terms of feed units, have been procured in the region.

Attention to this issue remains at a high level. Forage procurement continues at an active pace. To this end, we are harvesting corn, intermediate crops, and second and third cuttings of grass.

— Alexander Mikhailovich, the foundation of all achievements is primarily human labor. Could you tell us about the system of support adopted in the region to retain staff in the agricultural sector and attract new ones?

— A wide range of measures is in place, starting from financial support for students and pupils who are pursuing agricultural specialities under targeted agreements at higher education institutions or vocational education institutions. This year alone, employers in the region have concluded 131 targeted agreements for training specialists in agricultural higher education institutions.
Moreover, the majority of targeted agreements with specific organisations include incentive bonuses, which, by the way, have increased in recent years (up to ten base units).

Regarding young male specialists who have come to work in the agro-industrial complex organisations of the region, the regional executive committee petitions military commissariats to transfer them from compulsory military service to reserve service. To retain veterinary and zootechnical specialists in rural areas, incentive payments are applied in addition to established tariff salaries – an extra 1000 Belarusian rubles monthly from the regional budget. The number of such "thousand-ruble" recipients was 23 in March 2021, and 71 young specialists by August 2023.

Also, consider the significant support provided to workers in the agro-industrial sector directly within agricultural organisations in accordance with collective agreements. All these measures combined yield results, as evidenced by many farms in the region.

— Thank you, Alexander Mikhailovich, for the interview. We wish the Vitebsk region a successful completion of the agricultural season and a more fruitful future year in the agro-industrial complex.

Source: vitebsk-region.gov.by