Mass potato harvesting has begun in the Vitebsk region

September 5, Vitebsk / Sergei Kochetov - BELTA /. Farms in the Vitebsk region have begun the mass harvesting of potatoes, a BELTA correspondent was informed at the committee for agriculture and food of the regional executive committee. This year, potatoes are to be harvested on an area of 6.7 thousand hectares in the region, which is about 25% more than the potato field area in 2010. As of September 5, this crop has been harvested on 455.1 hectares, or 6.8% of the area to be harvested. Over 13.4 thousand tons have been dug up, with an average yield of 295.2 centners per hectare, which is almost 100 centners per hectare higher than a year ago. The work on the potato field is being carried out at the highest pace in the Tolochin district, where 17.7% of the area has already been harvested, over 5.4 thousand tons of potatoes have been dug up, and the average yield is the highest in the region, amounting to 493.2 centners per hectare. From September 5, university students of the region will be sent to agricultural organizations for potato harvesting. This year, it is planned to send over 6 thousand young men and women to help the villagers. Main vegetable crops have been harvested on an area of almost 30 hectares, which is over 3% of the area to be harvested. 480 tons of cabbage (average yield 255 centners per hectare), over 165 tons of beets (almost 255 centners per hectare), and about 85 tons of carrots (187 centners per hectare) have been collected. Winter crops have been sown on an area of 47.8 thousand hectares, or 19% of the plan. In addition, about 223 thousand hectares of land have been prepared for winter sowing, which is about 90% of the plan. -0-