March 28, 2012

Belarus raises soy, sunflower planting areas

Belarus modified the structure of planting areas in favour of more corn, soy and sunflower sowings, said Vasily Pavlovsky, Deputy Head of the Ministry of Agriculture, on Thursday (Mar 22).

According to him, during recent years sowing areas of sunflower and soy in the country totalled 1,500-3,000 ha, but in the current year sunflower sowing areas will increase to the level of 25,000 ha, soy - up 5.6 times, to 18,200 ha. He clarified that these crops will be grown in agricultural enterprises of Gomel and Brest oblasts.

In addition, the Deputy Minister continued that the spring sowing works in the current year is planned for the areas of over 2.6 million ha, including spring grains and leguminous crops (including corn for grain) throughout 1.4 million ha, corn for silage and green fodder - 786,200 ha, sugar beet - 99,100 ha, spring rapeseed - 99,100 ha.

Belarus will also increase the areas under leguminous crops. Last year, agrarians sowed the crops throughout 143,000 ha, in the current year the areas will be 183,600 ha, he added.

Also, added V. Pavlovsky, sowing areas under buckwheat will stay at the last year level - 38,600 ha.

The Deputy Minister noted that agricultural enterprises in four oblasts of the country - Gomel, Grodno, Brest and Minsk oblasts - already began to the spring field works, including additional fertilising of winter crops, and sowing of early spring crops in southern oblasts.

V. Pavlovsky added that early spring grains, cereals, leguminous crops and sugar beet should be sown until May 1, potatoes - until May 8, corn, buckwheat, heat-loving plants - May 10-15.