70% of fields with cereal crops have been cleared in the Republic of Tatarstan

Owing to quick pace of harvesting, 70% of fields with cereal crops have been thrashed in Tatarstan by the end of August, which is 1 million 40 thousand ha. The figures were announced by Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan – Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Tatarstan Marat Akhmetov at a republican session in the House of Government today.

The videoconferencing session with all municipal districts was held by Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan Aleksey Pesoshin.

Marat Akhmetov reported that 3 million 750 thousand tons of grain had been received at the average crop yield 35.6 dt/ha. To harvest faster, the minister asked to transport free combines to the fields which had not been cleared yet and to exploit machinery out of place. 150 grain harvesters from Rostov, Krasnodar, Bashkortostan, Samara, Orenburg, Mariy-El and some other districts are working on Tatarstan fields already.

Marat Akhmetov noted that this year it was planned to sow 560,000 ha of fields with winter crops. As of today, 320,000 ha of fields have been sown (57%). “Though weather conditions were favourable for spring wheat, the average crop yield of winter wheat is better by 6 dt/ha. A lot of districts follow our recommendations concerning the specific weight of winter crops of over 40%. Thus, Alkeevo, Zelenodolsk and Nurlat municipal districts are going to sow over 50% of fields with winter crops”, - he said.

Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Tatarstan also spoke about the rental cost of land shares for village people. The sum plays an important role in provision of cattle with fodder, which in its turn influences the welfare of village population, supposes Marat Akhmetov. Within the latest 5 years, the cost has increased from 450 to 650 rubles per ha (+200 rubles). “At the same time, a number of municipal districts have the rental cost lower than the average one in the republic. In 2016 the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Tatarstan recommended to set the rental cost of 5% from the cost of spring wheat yield, which is 700 rubles per ha”, - said the minister.

During the session Marat Akhmetov also noted that veterinarians faced a new disease – nodular dermatitis of livestock. The disease is less dangerous than African swine fever and avian influenza, but it leads to great economic losses. The virus is passed through insect bites. Animals loose weight and milk productivity. Last year 18,000 animals were infected with this disease in 16 regins of South and North Caucasian Federal Districts. About 40 episodes were registered in Volga Federal District. In 2017 the cases were registered in Orenburg, Samara, Volgograd and Saratov Regions.

According to Marat Akhmetov’s words, Tatarstan veterinary service is taking measures to prevent penetration of the dangerous disease into the territory of the republic.