11 October 2024
Lukashenko briefed on practices to minimize impact of waterlogging on crops
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko examined the results of the experiment on no-tillage practices as a solution to the problem of spring waterlogging in the president’s field in Shklov District. This makes it possible to increase the planted areas and eventually improve harvest by 10%, BelTA has learned.
"This topic is very important for Gomel Oblast and Mogilev Oblast. In spring, especially when the planting season ends, you fly over the country and you see waterlogged spots all around. Crops do not sprout in such places. This problem is common for all Belarus. Such are our soils, such is our climate. This is not Ukraine, or Russia’s Kuban. Sometimes we lose up to about 10% of the harvest," the president said. “We do not plant them with anything. Though we agreed otherwise this year. I suggested we plant something later on in the spring. Now I fly over, and I see that the things today are as they were in the spring. Farms rarely work on this problem."
Aleksandr Lukashenko explained that the soil is tilled 25-30cm deep every year. “We do not go deeper. A soil pan is formed and moisture is not absorbed. Scientists suggest tilling below 25-30cm. This will make the water go away. A whole bunch of machinery has been invented for this purpose. They have been tested for several years. You say the machinery proves efficient. I will not believe it, until I see it with my own eyes (as any farmer will agree with me),” the Belarusian leader said.
A decision was thus taken to test the relevant machinery on the presidential field.
