Preparation of equipment for sowing in the Vitebsk region will be completed by March 1

January 28, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. Preparation of equipment for sowing in the Vitebsk region will be completed by March 1. This task was set today at a meeting of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee by its chairman Alexander Kosinets, BELTA correspondent reports. Technical re-equipment of the agricultural sector of the region will continue in 2010. Last year, the region received 2.7 thousand units of agricultural machinery and equipment. In 2010, another 3.5 thousand units will be received for a total amount of Br578 billion. The machine fleet will be replenished with 500 grain harvesters, 128 forage harvesters, and 250 high-power tractors. All equipment will be of domestic production, except for flax processing units. "It is time for the region's agriculture to move from an extensive path of development to an intensive one," Alexander Kosinets emphasized. The yield of grain and leguminous crops in the region in 2010 should reach at least 34 centners per hectare, the productivity of the dairy herd needs to be increased by 360 kg, or by 1 kg per cow per day, and labor productivity in rural areas needs to be doubled. -0-