On the eve of "Dazhynki", the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee summed up the results of the harvest campaign.

On the eve of the "Dazhynki" rural workers' festival and fair, the Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, Boris Efremov, summed up the preliminary results of the harvest.

- In terms of gross grain production in bunker weight in the public sector in 2020, we are reaching 1075 tonnes, -- said Boris Sergeevich. – Based on last year's experience, about 50 thousand tonnes harvested in private subsidiary farms of villagers can be added here. Overall, the result for the region is not bad; there has been positive dynamics in gross threshing over the last three years. It is noteworthy that 70 percent of this year's grain harvest was provided by agricultural enterprises belonging to agro-industrial associations created under Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 70. The rapeseed harvest is also nearing completion in the region; 117 thousand tonnes of oilseeds of this very valuable crop have been harvested, compared to 100 thousand last year. Along with rapeseed, the region is increasing the areas for growing colza, a more profitable oilseed crop, the early harvest of which in mid-July allows for timely clearing of agricultural land.

In general, the strategy of this year's harvest, according to Boris Efremov, has justified itself, although it was not possible to complete it within the tight deadlines for a number of reasons. Weather conditions played a role; alas, one cannot count on 20 consecutive sunny days in the Vitebsk region. Insufficient technical equipment also affected the progress and results of the work. The existing 1100 far-from-new combine harvesters, with a daily output of 12-13 hectares each, were unable to cope with 390 thousand hectares of sown areas in three weeks. The delivery of 100 combine harvesters of Gomel production to the region in August provided assistance, but even this was not enough. Therefore, due to the prolonged harvest, the projection of obtaining about 1.2 million tonnes of grain was not realised, although such a yield was actually standing in the fields. When it started raining, about 30 thousand hectares had to be harvested for fodder purposes.

-- Without significant technical re-equipment of the machinery fleet, there is no point in increasing grain sowing in the future to justified agro-technical volumes, -- concluded the Deputy Chairman of the regional executive committee. – But in any case, we must pay tribute to our people, combine operators and representatives of other professions, who, with their selfless work from dawn till dusk, saved the harvest, snatching it from bad weather. More than 200 workers threshed two or more thousand tons of grain; there are record holders who have added 4-5 thousand tons to their credit. If we consider those who threshed a thousand tons, there are more than 300 of them this year, and half of the front-runners are young people. We will thank all of them for their work at the regional festival-fair.

Naming the best districts for grain production (Orshansky, Vitebsky, Tolochinsky, Dubrovensky, Verkhnedvinsky, Beshenkovichsky, Miorsky) and agricultural enterprises, Boris Efremov noted such an important detail. If we look at the winners of the regional competition not only in terms of the top three places in all nominations, but take the top ten in each, we will see representatives from almost all districts of the Vitebsk region in this list. This indicates that a high result is guaranteed where technological discipline is observed, varietal renewal is carried out, crop rotation is correctly maintained, and the entire complex of protective measures is implemented. And this result does not depend much on the weather and soil fertility. Hence the conclusion: there are no bad lands, each plot simply requires an individual approach. And this rule will become the main one in the work of agrarians in the future.

On the eve of the regional holiday for rural workers, our region has just completed the delivery of grain to grain reception enterprises under the state order in the amount of 109,400 tons. The villagers also coped with the delivery of rapeseed for processing. The main commandment of the grain growers has been fulfilled, the harvest is in the granaries, therefore, the completion of its collection can be celebrated with a sense of fulfilled duty, and society can express gratitude to all those who ensure the country's food security.

"Vitbichi". Photo from open sources.