An experimental tracked tractor is operating in the fields of the Shumilino District, the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee's Agriculture and Food Department informed a BELTA correspondent.
An experimental tracked tractor is operating in the fields of the Shumilino District, the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee's Agriculture and Food Department informed a BELTA correspondent.
The "Kirovets K-744" from the St. Petersburg Tractor Plant, equipped with wide rubber tracks, is engaged in ploughing low-lying fields at the Lovzhanskoye Open Joint-Stock Company, which is part of the integration structure of the Vitebsk Meat Processing Plant. It covers approximately 30-40 hectares of difficult terrain daily. "This is a rather good result, as a conventional wheeled tractor would simply not be able to operate there under current conditions," specialists explained.
The machine has been provided by the Russian enterprise free of charge for the entire field work season. Upon its completion, the farm management and the Regional Agriculture and Food Department will analyse the results and the feasibility of acquiring a whole range of tracked machinery for the region. "Every year, the sowing campaign in our region starts later than in the country as a whole due to weather conditions. For the same reason, the harvest is often delayed. If the tracked machinery proves itself well, its use will help to level out the current limitations of sowing and harvesting in the Vitebsk Region," the Regional Agriculture and Food Department noted.
The committee specified that Belarus currently does not produce tracked tractors with an engine power exceeding 428 hp for agricultural purposes.
As of May 4, 146 thousand hectares of early grain and leguminous crops have been sown in the region, against a plan of 210 thousand hectares. The pace of sowing significantly exceeds last year's, thanks to a substantial fleet of necessary machinery acquired on lease in 2017. The work is progressing most actively in the Dubrovno, Dokshitsy, Orsha, and Glubokoye districts, where the sowing of early grain and leguminous crops is planned to be completed in the coming days. The Braslav, Rossono, and Senno districts have so far not gained sufficient momentum. However, each region of the oblast has reserves to intensify the work, the Regional Agriculture and Food Department added.