Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Tatarstan Marat Akhmetov: 3 million 50 thousand tons of grain have been milled in the republic, 58% of fields have been cleared, the average crop yield is 35.9 dt/ha

As of August 28 2017, 3 million 50 thousand tons of grain have been milled in the republic, about 860,000 ha of fields have been cleared (58%). 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 session in the House of Government of the Republic of Tatarstan today.

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

Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Tatarstan noted that the week had been favourable for harvesting – the grain yield had reached over 900,000 tons. 10 municipal districts milled over 100,000 tons of grain each, the leading districts are Zainsk (128,500 tons), Buinsk (121,000 tons) and Sarmanovo (116,500 tons).

4 districts have cleared only 45-49% of fields. They are Bugulma, Kamskoe Ustye, Mendeleevsk and Tukaevo municipal districts.

According to Marat Akhmetov’s words, about one third of fields are left to be cleared in the following districts: Zainsk (33% or 12,200 ha), Chistopol (31% or 15,200 ha), Nurlat (34% or 10,600 ha), Apastovo (35%), Alkeevo (35%) and Alekseevskoe (35%) municipal districts.

The average crop yield in the republic is 35.9 dt/ha, which is by 8.8% more than it was last year.

“We have some decrease of the average crop yield within the latest several days due to harvesting of pea and buckwheat. Of course, their crop yield potential is much lower than that of wheat and barley, - said Marat Akhmetov. – We are going to preserve the level of the average crop yield owing to spring wheat. It occupies over 400,000 ha of fields. The most important task now is not to lose cereal crops during harvesting”.

The minister applied to the heads of municipal districts and investors and asked them to exploit free combine harvesters in full.

“The present period is favourable for harvesting for spring wheat, while pea and winter rye has already entered the dead-ripe stage”, - said Marat Akhmetov.

He also stated that the districts should analyze the state of corn and define the fields with maize.

Simultaneously with harvesting agriculturalists of the republic have started sowing of winter crops, said Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Tatarstan. “I beg you to sow winter crops till September 5. Beside this, every household is to found a reserve of winter crops for seeds. It will become a guarantee of increase in crop yield in 2019”, - said Marat Akhmetov.

Press Service of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan