The issues of preparing agricultural organizations in the Vitebsk region for the upcoming spring field work are being discussed at the regional executive committee meeting.

 In a conversation with journalists, the chairman of the committee for agriculture and food of the regional executive committee, Andrei Bulavkin, reported that the overall readiness of the equipment currently stands at 83%, and the readiness of energy-intensive tractors is 88%. Part of the funds for repairs is allocated from budgets. By the beginning of March, the readiness of the equipment will be about 90%.

Agricultural enterprises are provided with seeds of cereals, spring rapeseed, potatoes, and flax. Currently, a quality check is underway.

To conduct spring field work, there is a shortage of 701 operators. The staff shortage will be compensated by workers from industrial enterprises, various organizations, and educational institutions.

This year, the spring sowing area will amount to 306 thousand hectares, including 146 thousand hectares for grain and leguminous crops. To ensure livestock farming with a feed base, the areas for growing corn for grain are being increased to 30 thousand hectares.

According to the latest monitoring data, the death rate of winter cereals is 4-5%, which is within the average annual values, and for rapeseed – within 6%. However, winter survival largely depends on the weather conditions in March.

Andrei Bulavkin noted that there is a certain caution regarding floods. According to Vitebskoblgidromet, if in the Dokshitsy district the snow cover is about 25 cm, then in the Verkhnedvinsk district it is about 50 cm. However, there is readiness for any development of the situation – the hydraulic structures of the melioration systems on the balance are in good condition.

The Dokshitsy district traditionally starts spring field work as one of the first.

According to the chairman of the Dokshitsy district executive committee, Sergey Abiral, preparations for spring began with the completion of autumn field work. Currently, the readiness of energy-intensive tractors is 95% (there are 54 units in the region), and the repair of trailer equipment is being completed. Currently, the removal of organic matter to the fields is actively underway – three mechanized teams are operating. It is forecasted that certain types of field work can begin in the third decade of March. Sergey Abiral is confident that the region will conduct the sowing at a high level.

Newspaper "Vitebsk News"

https://vitvesti.by/obshestvo/voprosy-podgotovki-selkhozorganizatcii-vitebskoi-oblasti-k-provedeniiu-vesennikh-polevykh-rabot-obsuzhdaiut-na-zasedanii-oblispolkoma.html