March 5, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. Approximately 9 thousand machine operators will be involved in the sowing campaign in the Vitebsk region, the Committee for Agriculture and Food of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee informed a BELTA correspondent. The main contingent of machine operators involved in spring field work will be employees of agricultural enterprises – about 7.2 thousand people. To complete the sowing campaign within optimal deadlines, it is planned to additionally attract about 1.6 thousand people familiar with operating sowing units. These include former machine operators who have changed jobs, drivers from various enterprises and organizations, as well as students, graduates, and teaching staff of vocational education institutions in the region. In addition, to ensure safety requirements, young people will work in teams with experienced machine operators and will undergo medical examinations before being admitted to field work. The total sown area in the Vitebsk region in 2012 will be 873 thousand hectares, including 500 thousand hectares, or 57.3%, allocated for grain and leguminous crops. 246.2 thousand hectares (28.2%) are designated for fodder crops, 120 thousand hectares (13.7%) for technical crops, 5 thousand hectares (0.6%) for potatoes, and 1.8 thousand hectares (0.2%) for open-ground vegetables. The region is expected to be ready for spring field work by March 15. -0-

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