Large photo report: Vitebsk region agrarians were honored at the regional "Dazhynki"
The best representatives of the agro-industrial complex from different districts of the region gathered in Vitebsk to participate in the final stage of the regional festival-fair of agricultural workers "Dazhynki-2022".
The regional executive committee honored those who distinguished themselves in the harvesting of grain and leguminous crops, rapeseed, and took 2nd and 3rd places in the regional competition. The solemn event was attended by the Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Belarus Igor Brylo, Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee Alexander Subbotin, Chairman of the Regional Council of Deputies Vladimir Terentyev, Assistant to the President - Inspector for the Vitebsk Region Anatoly Linevich, and other officials.
– Today is your day, and I would like it to be a real celebration for you, – Alexander Subbotin addressed the agricultural workers. – On the eve of the Day of Agricultural and Processing Industry Workers of the Agro-Industrial Complex, I wish you health, patience, and confidence in the future.
He presented the heroes of the occasion with well-deserved awards. Diplomas and cash prizes were awarded to those who achieved the best results in harvesting grain and leguminous crops, and rapeseed, and in the procurement of forage crops.
Among the agricultural organizations, the following were recognized: Tolochin Cannery, UP "Goryany-Agro" of Polotsk district, "Teplichny" branch of RUP "Vitebskenergo", OJSC "Shaiterovo" of Verkhnedvinsk district, as well as OJSC "Khotily-Agro" and "Novoselki-Luchai" of Postavy district. This district has been showing high results for several years.
– Our agricultural enterprises are the pride of the district, – noted the Chairman of the Postavy District Executive Committee, Sergey Chepik. – We threshed 63.5 thousand tons, which is 22 thousand more than in 2021 (which is 147% of last year's level). This year has been challenging for agriculture, but with advanced technologies, high-performance equipment, and qualified specialists, it is possible to work successfully, regardless of any adverse weather.
The best senior combine operators and combine operators from agricultural organizations were awarded. Among them is combine operator Yuri Malyuzhenets of OJSC "Turguny" of Dokshitsy district. According to the worker, he sometimes had to work in quite difficult weather conditions, periodically fixing equipment malfunctions, but he managed to thresh about 2.6 thousand tons of grain.
– The country has a record harvest of grain, corn, and rapeseed this year, – noted Igor Brylo. – Vitebsk region has significantly increased its fodder production and grain harvesting. We have increased the volumes of sugar beet, potatoes, and other vegetables. There is not a single crop whose yield has decreased compared to last year. Exports of products have also significantly increased – by almost 1.5 billion – reaching over 8 billion dollars. Many of those present in this hall will take part in a solemn event at the Palace of Independence, where over 600 agricultural workers from all over the country will gather, about 110 of them will be awarded state honors.
Certificates of Honor and Letters of Gratitude for conscientious work and personal contribution to the development of agricultural production were awarded to agronomists, farmers, tractor drivers, drivers, and many others.
After the ceremony, the regional leadership and district delegations laid flowers at the memorial complex in honor of the Soviet soldiers-liberators, partisans, and underground fighters of Vitebsk region on Victory Square.
At the solemn award ceremony, the Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Belarus, Igor Sergeenko, noted that "Dazhynki" is an ancient tradition of our country, revived on the initiative of the head of state. It exists to pay tribute and honor those people who feed our people.
– The sowing and harvesting campaign is a serious exam for the agrarians of the whole country, according to the results of which the Vitebsk region demonstrates a good result. This year, more than 1 million tons of grain were threshed, with an average yield of 31 c/ha, which is significantly higher than the previous year's figures. This is the merit of all agrarians, livestock breeders, machine operators, combine operators, drivers, leaders at all levels: from agricultural enterprises to district and regional structures, processing enterprises of the Vitebsk region, – emphasized Igor Sergeenko. – I would like the Vitebsk region to always demonstrate results like this year. Thank you for your patience, endurance, and labor, which sometimes lasted from dawn till dusk.
Igor Sergeenko also read out the congratulatory address of the President of Belarus at the festive event and presented a basket of flowers from Alexander Lukashenko.
Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Alexander Subbotin noted that although the "Dazhynki" festival is not marked with a red date on the calendar, it is as valuable as any other.
– Today we are summing up the results of the harvest tour in all regions of Vitebsk Oblast, which started on September 17 in Glubokoye. We are looking at a new format for the regional "Dazhynki", experimenting, and listening to feedback from participants and guests. If this innovation has a positive effect and takes root here, we will consolidate and keep it. Although even in this case, further improvement is not excluded, – said the head of the region. – I will say without exaggeration: people of a special caliber work in Vitebsk Oblast, distinguished by their diligence and dedication to their chosen cause. Thanks to adherence to peasant traditions and prudent attitude to the wealth of their native land, the food shield of the region and the country is being created.
Farms operating stably have traditionally achieved the best results in grain yield: "Larinovka" of Orsha district – 77.4 c/ha, "Khotily-Agro" of Postavy district – 68.1 c/ha, "Tollachinsky Cannery" – 64.1 c/ha, branch "SP "MazolovoGaz" of Vitebsk district – 58 c/ha, "Vitebsk Broiler Poultry Farm" – 44.1 c/ha. It is significant that this enterprise provided a gross grain harvest of 54.5 thousand tons, which is higher than the indicators of 14 districts of the region.
The thousandth grain harvest was exceeded by 198 combine crews in the region, the 2-thousandth by 27, and the 3-thousandth by 4. One crew threshed over 4 thousand tons.
The absolute record in this year's harvest was set by combine operators from the "Zadneprovsky" branch of Orsha district, Alexander Komarov and Alexander Skleznov, who threshed 5,695 tons of grain.
The highest yield of grain and leguminous crops was obtained in: Vitebsk district – more than 41 c/ha, Orsha district – almost 41 c/ha, Verkhnedvinsk district – 35.5 c/ha.
Despite the challenging weather conditions in the winter-spring period, which required reseeding about 40% of winter rapeseed, a number of farms have succeeded in its production. Thus, the gross yield of rapeseed from Vitebsk Broiler Poultry Factory amounted to almost 6 thousand tons, from Tolochin Cannery - about 3 thousand tons, from Torguny of Dokshitsky district - 2.6 thousand tons. Among the leaders are also Shaiterovo of Verkhnedvinsky district, Agrokombinat Yubileiny, Zadneprovsky of Orshansky district, MazolovoGaz branch of Vitebsky district, Kushliki of Polotsky district.
The development vector of the Vitebsk region's agro-industrial complex is aimed at strengthening the prestige of the rural workers' profession, increasing the level of technical equipment in the industry, implementing advanced scientific developments in practice, and improving agricultural production technologies.
The current global food situation shows that the significance of the successful development of the agro-industrial complex remains consistently high. Agricultural products are increasingly becoming a strategic resource, including in foreign markets.
– Analyzing current trends, we understand how fragile the world can be and how quickly, overnight, what has been created over centuries can be lost. Such realities force us to be even more focused and purposeful, to form new growth points in the agricultural economy. Now, quality and pace must be an unshakable postulate. We can do a lot, if not everything, ourselves. We just need systematic and organized work. This is a condition for preserving our sovereignty, – stated Alexander Subbotin. – In this regard, the phrase of the President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko: "If we save the village, we will save the country," has become more than just a catchphrase. It carries a special meaning of state care for the land and the people who live and work on it.
The head of the region thanked the grain growers for their difficult and intense, but very important and necessary work. Their achievements enhance the authority of the agricultural sector, and this indicates that our people have reserves to move forward confidently and tackle ambitious and bold tasks.
During the solemn event, member of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Vladimir Matveev read out a welcome address from the Chairperson of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Natalya Kachanova, and the Chairman of the Standing Commission of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus on Agrarian Policy Nikolai Shevchuk thanked and congratulated the event participants on behalf of the Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly Vladimir Andreichenko.
The representative of the Head of State in the Vitebsk region, Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Petr Parkhomchik, also joined the congratulations to the agrarians. He noted the good results of the region in the harvesting campaign, but drew attention to the fact that in 2014, more than 1.4 million tons of grain were threshed in the region, so the agrarians of the Pridvinsky region have something to strive for.
– In terms of potato yield, the Vitebsk region has surpassed all regions of the republic, in terms of sugar beet yield, it has surpassed Minsk, but it slightly fell short of the Grodno region, and the yield of vegetables is also high. So, the Vitebsk region has not only ensured food security in its region, but also in our country as a whole, – said Petr Parkhomchik.
The Vice-Premier also presented the head of the region with a certificate for a KZS-1218 combine harvester, which will be donated to one of the local agricultural enterprises.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Belarus Igor Brylo noted that today, as in sports competitions, agrarians of the whole country are finishing. And, considering the remaining volume of work in the fields, this year will be a record harvest year, and the contribution of the northern region to it is significant. This year has been prosperous for Belarus not only in terms of grain, legumes, and rapeseed. The production volumes of almost all field crops have also increased. Such as sugar beet, flax, potatoes, and vegetables. This is the key to the production of products, primarily livestock products.
– Food security is ensured in the country. The self-sufficiency level for milk is 263 percent, for meat – 134 percent, for eggs – 128 percent, for potatoes and vegetables – over 100 percent. These figures indicate that we have become an export-oriented country. In 9 months, we managed to export products worth $6 billion, which is a 126 percent increase compared to last year. The Vitebsk region played an important role in this – almost $400 million with the same growth rate, – said the minister. – Thus, the country will reach a record export level. We will definitely exceed the sum of $8 billion this year and once again prove ourselves in the international market. Belarusian products are already known in more than 100 countries around the world.
Letters of appreciation for conscientious work and personal contribution to the development of agricultural production, as well as certificates of honor, were awarded to agronomists, farmers, tractor drivers, drivers, and many others.
The honored guests also laid flowers at the military memorial on Uspenskaya Hill and familiarized themselves with the farmsteads of the region's districts, which were located near the Philharmonic Hall.
