Regional Agricultural and Food Department: Tractor fleet readiness for sowing campaign in Vitebsk region is 86%

The readiness of the tractor fleet in the agricultural enterprises of the Vitebsk region for spring field work is estimated at 86%. This operational information was provided by Sergey Egorov, Chairman of the Committee for Agriculture and Food of the Regional Executive Committee, at a meeting of the Regional Executive Committee.

At the same time, in some districts (Beshenkovichi, Verkhnedvinsk), this figure exceeds 90%. The pace of tractor preparation is lower than the regional average in Braslav, Chashniki, Liozno, Miory, and Gorodok districts.

— If on a similar date in 2022, the readiness of machinery was about 80%, then today it is 86%. This year, district executive committees are more actively allocating funds from local budgets to support agricultural producers, which yields such results. Therefore, the task set to repair at least 95% of high-power tractors, including agricultural machinery involved in field work, will be accomplished. The personnel are working and are focused on successfully completing the sowing campaign within the established deadlines, — assured Sergey Egorov.

A total of at least 1070 high-power tractors will be involved in the spring. High-performance machinery should be used only in integrated units, which will make it possible to eliminate unjustified runs and transfers. A two-shift operation of this machinery will ensure high average daily productivity of soil cultivation and sowing units, stated the Chairman of the Committee.

During the preparatory period, special emphasis is placed on the accumulation of mineral fertilizers. A total of 22% of the technological requirement has been accumulated. Primarily, those types are being acquired that are necessary for fertilizing winter cereals and winter cruciferous crops. At the moment, the areas of winter cereals and cruciferous crops are fully supplied with nitrogen fertilizers, emphasized Sergey Egorov.

Another important concern for the agrarians is the seed fund. The agricultural enterprises of the Vitebsk region are generally provided with their own seeds of spring cereals and leguminous crops, spring rapeseed, flax, potatoes, and perennial grasses for the planned sowing areas.

— One of the keys to a high yield is the availability, quality, and preparation of seeds. Therefore, this year the committee has tightened the requirements for sampling for their research. With the slightest non-compliance of at least one of the indicators (purity, germination, impurities, etc.), seeds are sent for reprocessing. As practice shows, about 30% of seeds fail precisely due to purity. In other words, local specialists are not working hard enough in terms of the cleaning quality of the seed stock, — noted Sergey Egorov.

In total, in 2023, the sown area of agricultural crops will be 768.1 thousand hectares, including cereals and legumes — 350.4 thousand hectares. Cruciferous crops will occupy 89.4 thousand hectares, and flax will be allocated 11.5 thousand hectares. 83.1 thousand hectares are planned for silage corn. The areas for potatoes and vegetables will remain at the 2022 level (2 thousand hectares and 0.3 thousand hectares, respectively). Potato cultivation will be mainly carried out by specialized large-scale organizations. In addition, Dubrovensky and Tolochinsky districts will continue to grow sugar beet (a total of 600 hectares). KFH "Terra Gratia" in Senno district plans to sow 1.2 thousand hectares of soybeans and will remain the only farm in the Vitebsk region engaged in this crop.

Source: vitebsk-region.gov.by