On the eve of the "Dazhynki" festival, the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee summed up the harvest results
- In terms of gross grain production in bunker weight in the public sector in 2020, we are reaching 1075 tons, -- said Boris Sergeyevich. – Based on last year's experience, about 50 thousand tons harvested in personal subsidiary plots of villagers can be added here. Overall, the result for the region is not bad; there has been positive dynamics in gross harvest over the last three years. It is noteworthy that 70 percent of this year's grain harvest was provided by agricultural enterprises belonging to agro-industrial associations created under Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 70. The rapeseed harvest is also nearing completion in the region; 117 thousand tons of oilseeds of this very valuable crop have been harvested, compared to 100 thousand last year. Along with rapeseed, the region is increasing the areas for growing colza, a more profitable oilseed crop, the early harvest of which in mid-July allows for timely freeing up agricultural land.
In general, the strategy of this year's harvest, according to Boris Efremov, has paid off, although it was not possible to complete the harvest within the tight deadlines for a number of reasons. Weather conditions played a role; alas, one cannot count on 20 consecutive sunny days in the Vitebsk region. Insufficient technical equipment also affected the course and results of the work. The existing 1100 far-from-new harvesters, with a daily output of 12-13 hectares each, were unable to cope with 390 thousand hectares of sown land in three weeks. The delivery of 100 harvesters of Gomel production to the region in August was helpful, but even this was not enough. Therefore, due to the prolonged harvest, the calculation to obtain about 1.2 million tons of grain was not justified, although such a harvest was actually standing in the fields. When it started raining, about 30 thousand hectares had to be harvested for fodder purposes.
- There is no point in increasing grain sowing to justified agro-technical volumes in the future without significant technical re-equipment of the technical park, -- concluded the Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee. – But in any case, we must pay tribute to our people, combine operators and representatives of other professions, who, with their selfless work from dawn to dusk, saved the harvest, snatched it from the bad weather. More than 200 workers threshed two or more thousand tons of grain, there are record holders who recorded 4-5 thousand tons in their assets. If we take the thousand-tonners, then there are more than 300 of them this year, and half of the leaders are young people. We will thank them all for their work at the regional festival-fair.
Naming the best grain-producing districts (Orshansky, Vitebsky, Tolochinsky, Dubrovensky, Verkhnedvinsky, Beshenkovichsky, Miorsky) and agricultural enterprises, Boris Efremov noted such an important detail. If we look at the winners of the regional competition not only in terms of the top three places in all nominations, but take the top ten in each, we will see representatives from almost all districts of the Vitebsk region in this list. This indicates that a high result is guaranteed where technological discipline is observed, varietal renewal is carried out, crop rotation is correctly maintained, and the entire complex of protective measures is carried out. And this result does not depend much on the weather and soil fertility. Hence the conclusion: there are no bad lands, it's just that each plot requires its own approach. And this rule in the work of agrarians will become the main one in the future.
On the eve of the regional holiday for rural workers, our region has just completed the delivery of grain to grain receiving enterprises under the state order in the amount of 109,400 tons. The villagers also coped with the delivery of rapeseed for processing. The main commandment of the grain growers has been fulfilled, the harvest is in the granaries, therefore, the completion of its collection can be celebrated with a sense of duty fulfilled, and society can express gratitude to all those who ensure the country's food security.