Belarusian agricultural producers have sown 655 thousand hectares of early spring grain and leguminous crops, which is 88.9 percent of the plan. Brest, Gomel, Grodno, and Minsk regions have completed early sowing. 73.9 percent of the planned areas have been sown in the Mogilev region.
Belarusian agricultural producers have sown 655 thousand hectares of early spring grain and leguminous crops, which is 88.9 percent of the plan. Brest, Gomel, Grodno, and Minsk regions have completed early sowing. 73.9 percent of the planned areas have been sown in the Mogilev region.
Vitebsk region has significantly accelerated the pace of fieldwork, getting 6–7 percent closer to completing early sowing each day. This amounts to approximately 9 thousand hectares. Although technical capabilities allow for an increase of up to 11 thousand hectares per day, noted Sergey Egorov, Chairman of the Committee for Agriculture and Food of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee:
– The weather has given us the opportunity to fully deploy our efforts. Miory district is leading, with less than 1.5 thousand hectares remaining, which at the current pace will take five days to complete. Verkhnedvinsk district needs to sow 1.6 thousand hectares to reach the finish line. Polotsk district is also performing well and can manage within five days. The best farms are finishing and moving to assist those lagging behind. Within the agro-industrial association, mechanised teams are working not only in their own districts but also in others. Technically, our situation has even improved. 350 tractors arrived at the end of last year. Funds were allocated from the regional budget for the repair of soil cultivation and sowing units. Farms used their own funds to repair equipment at the Vitebsk Motor Repair Plant – about 30 sowing and cultivating units have been restored to like-new condition.
As reported by the Chairman, approximately 6,000 units of machinery are involved in the spring field works, including 1,200 high-powered units. More than 600 machine operators from cities and district centers, and over 270 students and pupils from specialized educational institutions are providing assistance to rural residents. Currently, 152,000 hectares of cereals and legumes, 35,000 hectares of rapeseed, 12,000 hectares of flax, and 100,000 hectares of corn (20,000 traditionally for grain) are to be sown. Farms are 100 percent provided with seeds for cereals and legumes. Specialist groups have been formed to provide practical assistance to agricultural enterprises and monitor technological processes. All districts have already commenced sowing spring rapeseed and flax. Hybrids have been delivered for the majority of the corn areas.