Lukashenko: Shklov District should become exemplary for Belarus in fight against drowning of crops in spring

During his working trip to the Shklov District of the Mogilev Region today, President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko got acquainted with the experience of fighting drowning of crops on an experimental field in the spring season using Amkodor-made machinery

photo: www.president.gov.by

The Head of State emphasised that the country loses up to 10 percent of its harvest in waterlogged fields. With this in view, the problem is very urgent and needs to be solved everywhere. At the same time, the Shklov District should become a model of such work for the whole country.

“This should be scaled throughout the republic, then we will be competitive and rich,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.

Starting the conversation, Aleksandr Lukashenko demonstrated his deep knowledge of the topic, “The topic is very important for the Gomel Region, not to mention the Mogilev Region. In the spring, especially when the sowing season ends, bare spots are seen from above the sky. These spots seem to be everywhere. It means that, after being sown on these wet spots, the crops fail to grow, they die. Actually, the whole of Belarus is covered in such spots. We have such soils and such climate. We are not Ukraine, we are not Kuban. We sometimes lose up to 10 percent of the harvest, and we do not sow these fields later – as we have agreed this year. After sowing, we need to process these wet spots, to sow something there afterwards. I can see today from above [while flying in a helicopter] that the situation during the harvesting campaign has remained unchanged since the spring. Not too many farms actually work [over this problem].”

Aleksandr Lukashenko drew attention to the fact that the depth of soil plowing makes 25-30cm in the country, “We do not dig deeper. As a result, a hard sole is formed, and moisture is not absorbed into the soil. Scientists say that it is necessary to break this sole and plough into the depth 30cm+, so that the water could go there. A range of special equipment has been developed for this purpose, and we have tested it for several years. You say the technology works well, but I do not actually believe. Being a person who lived in a village, I need to touch everything to get convinced.” 

According to the expert, over time, the problem has gone, and the depth of soil processing changed. 15 years ago, the land was plowed 18-20cm deep in Belarus, but the equipment was less powerful than it is now. At present, heavier equipment is used, and these machines actually tamp down the soil, which leads to the formation of the sole that the President spoke about. Earlier that layer was up to 6cm, but it now reaches almost one metre. To break it, new types of aggregates are needed (chisel plows and special diggers that operate at a depth of up to 70cm) and more powerful tractors. Fortunately, Belarusian industrialists can produce them. Today, energy-saving wheeled and tracked Belarus tractors with Amkodor attachments have been working in the field. As noted by Mr. Yarotsky, the technology of soil decompression in Belarus has not been fully worked out yet, although this would solve the problem not only of wet spots, but also the saturation of plants during the dry period with moisture lying below the compacted layer – thus contributing to richer harvests. 

Actually, the Head of State always has a broader view on the issues which his regional trips are devoted to. Aleksandr Lukashenko addressed the Agriculture and Food Minister, Anatoly Linevich, “I instruct you as the minister to put everything in order in the Shklov District – not only on this field, I visit these places and know the situation here – by the spring. Inform me if you need any help or support.”

At the same time, the Head of State recalled a number of tasks set earlier. They relate to the restoration of a local feed mill (the necessary funds have already been allocated), a regional agricultural service, and a mobile mechanised construction column. “Put everything in order. Tell us what you need, and we will help you. To be more correct: ask for more, they will give you less. Simply speaking, oversee the aspects that you must be responsible for,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.

The President clarified, “Make the Shklov District an exemplary one – not because it is my homeland, but to demonstrate how it is necessary to act. The Orsha District is nearby, and people there will follow you. You have everything for this: a base, strong farms to show how it should be, and the Orsha District which will also follow the example. This should be scaled up throughout the republic, and then we will be competitive and rich.”