What makes targeted recruitment attractive – the example of youth in the Ushachy district
March is a busy time for future young specialists. On the very first day of spring, the distribution process took place at the leading agricultural university in the country – BSUAA. At the Faculty of Agricultural Mechanization, 102 graduates were assigned (147 applications were submitted); at the Faculty of Biotechnology and Aquaculture, 78 (361); and at the Agrotechnological Faculty, 124 (370). At Grodno State Agrarian University, for example, diplomas have already been awarded to masters of the Faculty of Economics. Recently, a similar ceremony was held at the Institute of Professional Development and Retraining of the Agro-Industrial Complex of BSUATU.
Every year, about a thousand young certified agronomists join the agro-industrial enterprises of the Vitebsk region, but the personnel shortage remains acute. It is especially difficult to find specialists in the livestock industry: currently, the region's farms are short of approximately 120 veterinarians and 140 zootechnicians. It should be recalled that two years ago, the regional administration took an unprecedented step: they encouraged graduates of universities and colleges of relevant profiles with a monthly supplement of one thousand rubles to their basic salary, provided they signed a five-year contract with enterprises of integration associations. Funds for this incentive are allocated from the regional budget and are paid during the first three years of employment. Among those receiving this "scholarship" is Pavel Solovyov, the chief zootechnician of OAO "Ilyushinsky" in the Ushachi district. Practically the entire core staff of the enterprise consists of young people. Correspondents have studied the experience of retaining agricultural specialists in the Vitebsk region.
At the time of our visit to OAO "Ilyushinsky," the director, Sergey Khalimonenko, was away and advised us to speak with the chief accountant. We visited Tatyana Olegovna's office and were surprised: a very young woman holds a responsible position. Her husband, Ilya Siskovich, at 25 years old, is the chief economist, so the couple practically spends all their time together. The farm provided young specialists with a house. Ilya Vasilievich was initially focused on working here: he studied under a targeted program and received a supplement to his scholarship. Tatyana, a native of Beshenkovichi, followed her husband after her assignment at the Gorki Agricultural Academy.
"Having our own house with gas and all amenities is a big plus," shares Tatyana Siskovich. "Besides, there are many young people, chThe chief physician recently arrived from Vitebsk, the chief engineer – from Ushachi. Working in a responsible position in an agricultural organization is a real school of life for a young accountant. It seems to me that with a desire, after such an experience, you can easily adapt to any field.
A five-year contract with the enterprise brought the chief zootechnician not only separate service housing, like the Siskovich spouses, but also a thousand-ruble bonus from the regional executive committee. On average, without it, the salary is about 1800 rubles, so the money is quite good. Funds for promotion are included in the regional budget, I pay them out in the first three years of work. Pavel's wife Anastasia, a student at the same Gorki Academy, is finishing her last year and after receiving her diploma also plans to get a job at "Iljinskiy" as a zootechnician-breeder. The spouses are still thinking about signing a five-year contract with a thousand-ruble increase for her as well.
We meet the young specialist in the calf "sanatorium" built last year. The original building is adjacent to the warehouse: three walls are made of transparent polypropylene sheets, the roof is also partially transparent. It is light for the calves, they are protected from wind and snow. Each has a separate wooden compartment. Currently, 59 young pets live in the complex, built by the enterprise's own construction crew, and another 59 are housed in a similar building next door. They are kept here from birth to 70 days. Order and cleanliness are immediately striking, the feeders are filled with compound feed. In six months of work, the chief zootechnician has learned his duties well, as he himself is a village lad from the village of Zastodolye, Senno district, Pavel's father worked as a machine operator. The young specialist's wife is from Berezino. She says that housing and working conditions were an important argument for both when choosing a place of work, as there were enough options. The couple are settling in, doing cosmetic repairs in the house.
— The main thing for me is that the animals are fed, we monitor their health, — Pavel talks about his daily routine. — Mass calving is underway now, they may...call at night, I help. I never thought about working, for example, at a vet clinic, but here I am in my place.
Every year, about a thousand young certified agronomists join the agro-industrial enterprises of the Vitebsk region, but the personnel shortage remains acute. It is especially difficult to find specialists in the livestock industry: currently, the region's farms are short of approximately 120 veterinarians and 140 zootechnicians. It should be recalled that two years ago, the regional administration took an unprecedented step: they encouraged graduates of universities and colleges of relevant profiles with a monthly supplement of one thousand rubles to their basic salary, provided they signed a five-year contract with enterprises of integration associations. Funds for this incentive are allocated from the regional budget and are paid during the first three years of employment. Among those receiving this "scholarship" is Pavel Solovyov, the chief zootechnician of OAO "Ilyushinsky" in the Ushachi district. Practically the entire core staff of the enterprise consists of young people. Correspondents have studied the experience of retaining agricultural specialists in the Vitebsk region.
At the time of our visit to OAO "Ilyushinsky," the director, Sergey Khalimonenko, was away and advised us to speak with the chief accountant. We visited Tatyana Olegovna's office and were surprised: a very young woman holds a responsible position. Her husband, Ilya Siskovich, at 25 years old, is the chief economist, so the couple practically spends all their time together. The farm provided young specialists with a house. Ilya Vasilievich was initially focused on working here: he studied under a targeted program and received a supplement to his scholarship. Tatyana, a native of Beshenkovichi, followed her husband after her assignment at the Gorki Agricultural Academy.
"Having our own house with gas and all amenities is a big plus," shares Tatyana Siskovich. "Besides, there are many young people, chThe chief physician recently arrived from Vitebsk, the chief engineer – from Ushachi. Working in a responsible position in an agricultural organization is a real school of life for a young accountant. It seems to me that with a desire, after such an experience, you can easily adapt to any field.
A five-year contract with the enterprise brought the chief zootechnician not only separate service housing, like the Siskovich spouses, but also a thousand-ruble bonus from the regional executive committee. On average, without it, the salary is about 1800 rubles, so the money is quite good. Funds for promotion are included in the regional budget, I pay them out in the first three years of work. Pavel's wife Anastasia, a student at the same Gorki Academy, is finishing her last year and after receiving her diploma also plans to get a job at "Iljinskiy" as a zootechnician-breeder. The spouses are still thinking about signing a five-year contract with a thousand-ruble increase for her as well.
We meet the young specialist in the calf "sanatorium" built last year. The original building is adjacent to the warehouse: three walls are made of transparent polypropylene sheets, the roof is also partially transparent. It is light for the calves, they are protected from wind and snow. Each has a separate wooden compartment. Currently, 59 young pets live in the complex, built by the enterprise's own construction crew, and another 59 are housed in a similar building next door. They are kept here from birth to 70 days. Order and cleanliness are immediately striking, the feeders are filled with compound feed. In six months of work, the chief zootechnician has learned his duties well, as he himself is a village lad from the village of Zastodolye, Senno district, Pavel's father worked as a machine operator. The young specialist's wife is from Berezino. She says that housing and working conditions were an important argument for both when choosing a place of work, as there were enough options. The couple are settling in, doing cosmetic repairs in the house.
— The main thing for me is that the animals are fed, we monitor their health, — Pavel talks about his daily routine. — Mass calving is underway now, they may...call at night, I help. I never thought about working, for example, at a vet clinic, but here I am in my place.
Sergey Khalimonenko, Director of OJSC "Ilyushinsky", does not hide the fact that the farm is placing a big bet on young people. And first of all, on specialists in the field of zootechnics and veterinary medicine. With the help of the young chief veterinarian Vladislav Khubetsov, a group for artificial insemination and treatment of animals was created. Olesya Kimova, one of the milking machine operators, retrained as an inseminator, and another employee, the farm manager Valentina Maryina, is currently receiving similar education.
— If necessary, we provide housing for families, which can be bought out after seven years of work, — notes Sergey Anatolyevich. — An inseminator receives about 2 thousand rubles a month with supplements. Some neighboring farms do not have such specialists, so we help them too. In general, thanks to the improvement of the veterinary service, we are seeing positive dynamics in milk production this year: in February, it was 15 percent more than last year.
The livestock population on the farm is about 2 thousand, 870 of them are dairy cows. To improve their quality, they plan to continue to improve the qualifications of workers. And not only those with higher education. Currently, under a targeted program from OJSC, one specialist is studying to become a veterinary paramedic in the Vitebsk region, and another is studying to become an electric welder in Lepel. The enterprise pays each student an additional 3 basic amounts per month on top of their scholarship. The obligatory work period after vocational training is two years, after secondary vocational education – three years, after higher education – five years.
Speaking about how to motivate people to work more effectively, the head of the enterprise shared his own know-how. The enterprise has set a norm for milking machine operators with a fixed payment: for 400 liters of milk – 400 rubles. But if you add 100 kilograms to this figure, you get a 10 percent increase in salary. And so on.
— Thanks to this differentiated approach, the milkmaids have gained an incentive, and their earnings have increased over two years from the minimum to 1600 rubles per month, — notes the director.
The head does not hide: it is not always possible to find the right specialist the first time. Sometimes the knowledge gained at university is clearly insufficient, or the person has made a mistake with their calling. However, on the whole, he is satisfied with the work of young staff. March is a busy time for distribution, when it is decided where the newly minted agro-industrial complex specialists will work their first years. It's time to choose, the main thing is not to make a mistake.
— If necessary, we provide housing for families, which can be bought out after seven years of work, — notes Sergey Anatolyevich. — An inseminator receives about 2 thousand rubles a month with supplements. Some neighboring farms do not have such specialists, so we help them too. In general, thanks to the improvement of the veterinary service, we are seeing positive dynamics in milk production this year: in February, it was 15 percent more than last year.
The livestock population on the farm is about 2 thousand, 870 of them are dairy cows. To improve their quality, they plan to continue to improve the qualifications of workers. And not only those with higher education. Currently, under a targeted program from OJSC, one specialist is studying to become a veterinary paramedic in the Vitebsk region, and another is studying to become an electric welder in Lepel. The enterprise pays each student an additional 3 basic amounts per month on top of their scholarship. The obligatory work period after vocational training is two years, after secondary vocational education – three years, after higher education – five years.
Speaking about how to motivate people to work more effectively, the head of the enterprise shared his own know-how. The enterprise has set a norm for milking machine operators with a fixed payment: for 400 liters of milk – 400 rubles. But if you add 100 kilograms to this figure, you get a 10 percent increase in salary. And so on.
— Thanks to this differentiated approach, the milkmaids have gained an incentive, and their earnings have increased over two years from the minimum to 1600 rubles per month, — notes the director.
The head does not hide: it is not always possible to find the right specialist the first time. Sometimes the knowledge gained at university is clearly insufficient, or the person has made a mistake with their calling. However, on the whole, he is satisfied with the work of young staff. March is a busy time for distribution, when it is decided where the newly minted agro-industrial complex specialists will work their first years. It's time to choose, the main thing is not to make a mistake.
First Deputy Chairman — Head of the Department of Agriculture and Food of the Ushachi District Executive Committee Yulia LADNOVA:
— We try to take care of replenishing enterprises in advance: agro-classes have been opened in two schools, in Ushachi and Glibochany, for early profiling of students. Last year, ten young specialists arrived in the district at agro-industrial complex enterprises, two of them were targeted students, both at OJSC "Ilyushinsky". Six were provided with rooms and single-family houses, three live with parents, one has their own housing. In general, we are very happy to see young people, we are ready to provide directions for targeted training. We provide almost everyone with housing, there is a dormitory and houses. In addition, a regional program of additional payments for three years is in effect, we are trying to retain staff.
— We try to take care of replenishing enterprises in advance: agro-classes have been opened in two schools, in Ushachi and Glibochany, for early profiling of students. Last year, ten young specialists arrived in the district at agro-industrial complex enterprises, two of them were targeted students, both at OJSC "Ilyushinsky". Six were provided with rooms and single-family houses, three live with parents, one has their own housing. In general, we are very happy to see young people, we are ready to provide directions for targeted training. We provide almost everyone with housing, there is a dormitory and houses. In addition, a regional program of additional payments for three years is in effect, we are trying to retain staff.