Region

Gomel oblast leading in grain crop harvesting campaign

A mass grain crop harvesting campaign is under way in the southern regions of Belarus, BelTA learnt from the main plant growing department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Foodstuffs. According to specialists, the Gomel oblast has cropped 15.2% of the areas under grain crops, Brest oblast 6.4%. The Grodno and Minsk oblasts have harvested around 1%. The field works in the northern Vitebsk and Mogilev oblasts will start in early August. In general, the campaign has been slow as grain is still moist and unripe. Nevertheless, sample harvesting showed that the yield is 274, 000 tonnes averaging 32.8 centners per hectare. Last year the yield was 29.7 centners per hectare. More than 6,000 tonnes of grain has already been supplied for the state needs, or 0,6% of the plan. The highest yield is in the Grodno oblast - around 45 centners per hectare. The yield in the Brest oblast is also higher than countrywide - more than 36.4 centners per hectare. Some 66% of the areas under winter rape, or 170,000 hectares, have been harvested. The Gomel oblast has cropped 89%, Brest oblast 85%, Grodno 81.3%. The Minsk and Mogilev oblast have also crossed the 50% threshold. It is only the Vitebsk oblast that is lagging with its 38%. The gross rape yield makes up 385,600 tonnes. The yield is 5 centners higher than last year and is at 22.7 centners per hectare. The yield in the Grodno oblast makes up 28 centners per hectare. According to specialists, this year the conditions are more favourable for flax. Soil moisture is sufficient. The flax has been pulled on the area of 7,600 hectares, which accounts for 5% of the total area under flax. The Gomel and Brest oblast are leading in the flax harvesting campaign rate.