Farms in the Vitebsk region will be supplied with mineral fertilizers for sowing

March 9, Vitebsk / Sergey Kochetov - BELTA /. The need of agricultural enterprises of the Vitebsk region for mineral fertilizers (223 thousand tons) for the sowing campaign will be met, the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee's Agriculture and Food Committee informed a BELTA correspondent. As of March 5, about 99 thousand tons of active ingredient of mineral fertilizers have been accumulated in the region, which is more than 44% of the required amount, including the stock of nitrogen fertilizers - more than 25%, phosphorus - 24%, potash - 74%. In order to provide farms with mineral fertilizers at a level not lower than last year, all organizational issues have been resolved, including the possibility of purchasing fertilizers abroad, particularly in Russia, for about $40 million, specialists noted. The preparation of equipment for spring field work is mostly completed, and its readiness is higher than last year. About Br8 billion was allocated from the regional budget for these purposes, and farms directed another Br10 billion of their own funds. The material and technical base of agricultural enterprises allows for sowing within optimal agro-technical terms within two weeks. In recent years, the machinery fleet has been replenished with 600 high-power tractors and 600 combined sowing units. To ensure a two-shift operation of high-power machinery during sowing, machine operators from state and private enterprises in other sectors of economic activity will be involved. The grain acreage in the Vitebsk region will increase by 100 thousand hectares compared to 2009 to 458 thousand hectares. About 200 thousand hectares are allocated for winter crops.