A turning point in agriculture. Which agricultural crop is Lukashenko paying special attention to

Last year, the Head of State, speaking at an experimental field in his small homeland in the Shklov district, emphasized that a historic and pivotal moment had arrived in agriculture. He drew attention to winter barley. Subsequently, the media and experts began discussing this crop. Is winter barley truly capable of revolutionizing the country's agro-industrial complex? In the new episode of the BELTA YouTube project "As a Matter of Fact: The First's Decisions," we will explore whether the Head of State's opinion on this miracle crop has changed, what makes it special, and at what yield, according to the President, Belarusians would be "in clover."

How Climate Change Affects the Work of Belarusian Agrarians

Belarusian summers are so short that city dwellers don't have time to enjoy them. What, then, can be said about rural residents who also need to grow a harvest? The most ungrateful task is making predictions. And this year is a testament to that. May 2023 became the driest since 1945. In that month, an average of 12 mm of precipitation fell – about 20% of the climatic norm. The drought not only adjusted the timing of the harvest but also the sequence of crops: previously, the battle for the harvest began with winter rye; now, it starts with winter barley. It ripens earlier than other crops and is less susceptible to drought.

Currently, we are considering the possibility of increasing breeding work with winter barley. We understand that the ratio of spring and winter barley in production will change. We plan to increase the volume of winter barley nurseries while slightly reducing the volume of spring barley. We are also accelerating the development of winter barley seeds to transfer them to the State Commission for Testing. We have prepared three new varieties: "Ranak," which is atypical, and two typical ones – "Dnepr" and "Vytok," – said Alexander Zubkovich, Head of the Barley Laboratory at the Scientific and Practical Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus for Agriculture.

Winter barley is a winter grain. It is accompanied by rye and wheat. They are sown in late summer or early autumn before the onset of stable frosts. The harvest is collected the following year. In the food industry, winter barley grain is used to create pearl barley and barley groats, as well as barley flour. It is also an excellent raw material for the production of beer, kvass, and coffee substitutes. Grain is not only bread, but also milk, cheese, sour cream, and meat. This is because grains make up a significant portion of the feed ration for cattle, pigs, and poultry. They are rich in protein and contain starch.

Why Lukashenko Paid Attention to Winter Barley at One Time

This crop was looked at with interest at the initiative of the head of state. While he was still the head of an agricultural enterprise, he was involved in its cultivation. Therefore, the President knows from personal experience that winter barley is harvested earlier than other grain crops. This allows for prompt procurement of feed for livestock and more even utilization of machinery before the mass harvest.

During a working trip to the Minsk region in August 2019, the President spoke about how he grew winter barley when he managed an agricultural enterprise: "I probably sowed about 200 hectares of winter barley. The yield, of course, is lower than that of other crops, but it is a lifesaver when there is no feed in the spring. Winter barley was ready at the end of May."

What Agricultural Areas in Belarus Are Occupied by Winter Barley

Alexander Lukashenko's decision is to systematically increase the sowing of this crop. For example, this year winter barley occupies 161 thousand hectares across the country, which is 2.7 times more than in 2022. This accounts for 11% of arable land. However, as the President has noted more than once, special attention should be paid to technology and a reasonable balance should be maintained so that in case of low yields, the grain acreage can be compensated by other crops. It is also not worth forcing farms to sow certain areas with winter barley. After all, those on the ground know best.

"Winter barley must be cultivated from all perspectives. In Soviet times, this was treated carelessly. Now, the technologies, equipment, and people are different. We can easily get good barley yields. So, we should try more boldly," the head of state encouraged the agrarians of the Minsk region during a working trip to the Slutsk district in July last year.

The President added: "There should be no pressure whatsoever. They must decide for themselves, taking experience into account, how much barley to cultivate."

At a recent selector meeting on the harvest campaign, Alexander Lukashenko again addressed this agricultural crop. "I emphasize: winter barley is not my invention; we have been cultivating it for a long time, but on a residual basis. We have never paid special attention to this crop, but it needs special attention if we decide to cultivate it. It is a capricious crop, it is good where technologies are observed (in principle, like any other crop, but winter barley - first and foremost)," the President said. "Winter barley, I believe, is here to stay. It has survived the catastrophes of the past and this year and has yielded a good harvest."

What are the features of winter and spring barley

The changing climate dictates agricultural trends. The trend of the last five years is that winter cereals yield more than spring cereals. Winter crops can be saved in spring with top dressing, while spring crops are more susceptible to weather whims. One year is not like another: this season is dry, and the next may bring heavy rains. Hence the President's demand: do not blame the weather, but work diligently in the fields.

"I understand perfectly well that these are not last year's conditions. If there has been no rain in the country for 40 days, then, naturally, it has affected all regions in some way. But to claim that it's a disaster, that everything has burned down, is wrong. Yes, we will not get last year's record harvest, but I am not asking you for that either. If last year you were able to get 10.5 million tons of grain of all crops, I am asking you for nine. And we can collect it if we organize ourselves and have proper discipline. If the machine operator is responsible for the condition of the equipment, so that the stubble after the combine is not sown. This is the work of the engineer, the agronomist, the manager, and above all, the machine operator. If we save the grain that is currently in the field, we will have a harvest," the head of state expressed his confidence at a recent selector meeting on the harvest.

Winter barley is cultivated in countries with mild winters. These are mainly the southern regions of Europe and Asia. In the EU, the main producers of barley grain are France, Germany, Austria, and Spain. By the way, analysts expect a decrease in the barley harvest this year. For example, according to Spanish farmers' estimates, drought has caused irreparable damage to more than 3.5 million hectares of grain crops. According to recent observations, the Belarusian climate is increasingly resembling the Spanish one. Winters are not frosty and not snowy. There is less and less moisture. Winter crops have no time to go into hibernation. That is why scientists are working on breeding new varieties.

What is grown in the President's experimental fields

"Winter barley will be!" - the President will say, and this year, while on an inspection trip to his small homeland. Alexander Lukashenko personally monitors the entire agro-cycle from sowing to harvesting. New varieties from Belarusian scientists, including barley, continue to be tested in the head of state's experimental fields. By the way, it was from the Alexandrian lands that "Buslik" went to all regions. It has been approved for cultivation throughout the country and included in the state register of varieties.

"Currently, 13 varieties are included in the Belarusian register, but not all of them are cultivated. The largest areas are occupied by the French varieties "Teresa" and "Izocel". They also grew in the presidential fields," - said Alexander Zubkovich.

The scientist also noted the Belarusian winter barley variety "Buslik", which also showed decent results in the presidential fields. "Although we were very worried, I won't hide it. It's a great responsibility. The head of state is aware of the situation, he sees everything. Sunflowers, soybeans, peas, and lupins are currently growing in the so-called experimental presidential fields. The Belarusian variety "Buslik" and the French varieties "Teresa" and "Izocel" are cultivated in commercial crops," he added.

Alexander Zubkovich noted that the "Buslik" variety has only been cultivated in production for the second year. "We have supplied it to all regions upon request. This is about 5.3 thousand hectares. Agricultural producers will be able to test it. As for Russia, "Buslik" has also undergone trials there. It is included in the state register and approved for use. We are currently processing a patent in Russia," the scientist concluded.

What yield does winter barley give

"I must tell you that winter barley yields more than 50 centners per hectare on average. If we had such an average yield for all crops in the country, listen, we would be, as they say in the vernacular, in clover. Therefore, the sowing of winter barley must be expanded," the head of state addressed the Chairman of the Mogilev Regional Executive Committee, Anatoly Isachenko, who reported to the President in July last year.

The head of state always pays close attention to the agro-industrial complex. And he doesn't just inspect, but sets the pace himself. It is not for nothing that journalists have called the presidential fields "agro-classes" for the whole country, demonstrating the agriculture of tomorrow. The climate is changing, the global economy is transforming, and new technologies are being introduced. And here, one must be one step ahead. Because bread has always been the staff of life.

"Grain today is akin to gold and foreign exchange reserves. It will always come in handy and its price is constantly growing. At least, there have never been and will not be such prices on the international market as yesterday and today. That's for sure. And if we have spare capacity, why not fill them with grain reserves? In order to ensure our own food security, so that we have, as they say in the vernacular, "both bread and something for bread" on our table," Alexander Lukashenko emphasized the importance of ensuring food security at a recent selector meeting on the harvest.

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Source: belta.by