Nikolai Sherstnev: Vitebsk region agrarians will do everything necessary to get the maximum harvest

"Currently, what is happening in the fields is already pleasing. Winter crops are in good condition, although they had a difficult winter. However, it rained, and everything stabilized. Spring crop emergence is generally good and encouraging so far. But, in essence, everything necessary must be done regarding crop care and plant protection to achieve the maximum harvest," said Nikolai Sherstnev. "Considering that nature gives us practically twice shorter periods than in the southern regions, there are two components to success here. The first is, undoubtedly, personnel, who must be highly organized and professional. The second is the provision of equipment. If previously the spring sowing campaign took about a month to a month and a half, this year we entered the fields in mid-April, and by the beginning of May, all grain and leguminous crops were practically sown. This year, it was only possible thanks to strengthening agricultural organizations. New reliable equipment means completely different productivity, which is why we managed to sow on time."

According to him, today in the Vitebsk region, reconstruction, repurposing, and re-equipment of livestock facilities are being carried out to increase milk production. "We have chosen two directions for ourselves. The first is the restoration of premises that have served their time but need to be repurposed and used further. The second is the construction of new robotic dairy farms, where maximum production can be obtained. On the farms we are restoring, we try to invest minimum costs and achieve maximum effect, because the cost of production there will be lower compared to building new complexes. We have set a task to modernize the livestock complex of the Vitebsk region within the next five years. Then we will get a result that primarily involves 100% utilization of the capacities of milk and meat processing. That's when the economy will work. For this purpose, we have integrated meat processing and milk processing enterprises into a single organism and created raw material zones around them for 100% supply of our enterprises with raw materials," said the Chairman of the regional executive committee.

The head of the region drew attention to the staffing of the agro-industrial complex. "The Vitebsk region has its own specifics: difficult natural conditions, cold winters, late springs, a short growing season. All this leaves its mark. Therefore, we need staff who love the land, who can work in these conditions. I would like to assemble such a team. Of course, this is not easy and is not done in one month or year. However, we are carrying out this mission in many directions. There are results," he said.

Nikolai Sherstnev highly praised the effectiveness of the work of specialized agricultural classes operating in the schools of the Vitebsk region. "We show the children the specifics of the agricultural focus, tell them about our farms, workshops, demonstrate the technology of the future, livestock facilities, and robotic complexes. In this way, we involve young people in this field. Through agroclasses, in my opinion, retention in production will be much higher, because young people will come with awareness, understanding why they want to work in the agro-industrial complex," he added.