Republic

Belarus to complete spring sowing campaign by May 5

Agricultural companies of Belarus are to complete the sowing of main spring crops except for the heat-loving plants by May 3-5, chief of the plant cultivation department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Foodstuffs, Viktor Kornev, told BelTA. As of April 30, grain crops were sown on 981.3 thousand hectares, or 94.42% of the target. The agricultural companies of the Grodno, Minsk and Mogilev oblasts are completing the sowing campaign. The Vitebsk oblast has to sow the remaining 22% of areas with grain crops. With the sowing pace at 5.2%, the work will be finished in 4-5 days, if the weather permits. The agricultural companies of Belarus have already sown some 44.8 thousand hectares with flax, or 55% of the target. Completing the flax sowing campaign is the Minsk oblast (96%), the Grodno oblast (81%) and the Brest oblast (78%). The Vitebsk oblast, which is the main flax-cultivating area, has to sow more than two thirds of the allotted territory. Flax sowing is to be completed by May 10. Some 20% of the areas under sugar beet is left to be sown. The Grodno oblast has sown 89.4% of sugar beet areas, the Brest oblast (88.4%), the Minsk oblast (63.2%), and the Mogilev oblast (almost 70%). The spring rape sowing campaign is underway as well. The spring rape has been sown on 15.4 thousand hectares, or slightly more than 41% of the target. The Brest oblast is the first to complete the spring rape sowing campaign. The main attention now should be devoted to the sowing of maize, potato and other vegetables. As of April 30, potatoes have been sown on 20.5 thousand hectares, or 35% of the target, maize – 175 thousand hectares, or a fifth part of the planned area. All in all, the spring crops have been sown on 1,476 thousand hectares, or 63.2% of the target. The Grodno oblast, which has completed 75% of the spring campaign, is a leader countrywide.