Vitebsk region will complete sowing within two weeks

Vitebsk region to complete sowing within two weeks. This was announced by Ivan Fyodorov, Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee's Agriculture and Food Committee, before the start of a regional executive committee meeting on spring field work. "About 30% of spring crops have been sown in the region, the sowing plan for grain and leguminous crops has been fulfilled by 53.7%, and for rapeseed – by 27%. With normal weather conditions, the region can complete the work within 10-15 days," said Ivan Fyodorov. "By May 10, work on grain crops will be completed, and by May 15 – on corn. We have all the opportunities for this – fuel is available in full, people are motivated to work, and are ready to work in the fields at night." Ivan Fyodorov emphasized that in the first half of April, all districts actively joined the sowing campaign, but rains practically stopped work in the fields this week. The situation is worst for the farmers of Sharkovshchyna district, where only 14% of the grain and leguminous crop areas have been sown. Nikolai Bogovich, Chairman of the Sharkovshchyna District Executive Committee, explained that the land is oversaturated with moisture. "The rains do not allow us to enter the fields. The machinery gets stuck, there is standing water. Fortunately, the sun has peeked out yesterday and today, and the fields are starting to dry. And today, machinery has entered the fields in three farms, and before that, we could do practically nothing for two weeks," noted the head of the district. According to him, something similar happened in 2013 – the spring was delayed then, and sowing only began in the last days of April. "Now we have already sown some part. And if there are no rains, then in a day or two all farms will fully engage in work. We are preparing to work around the clock – we plan to organize night soil preparation in the fields that will be drying out to catch up. There is no tragedy yet, but the situation is critical," stated Nikolai Bogovich. "We have no choice. We will work around the clock to meet the deadlines set by spring. We place great hopes on winter crops, they are in good condition – this is the basis of our future harvest," said the head of the district. A similar situation is observed in Postavy district. "A band of rains..."