From the magazine: No. 2 2014
Category: Region
Viktor Narushev, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, Professor of the Department of Plant Growing, Breeding and Genetics, Saratov State Agrarian University named after N.I. Vavilov
The potato growing industry is considered one of the most important components of the agro-industrial complex of the Volga region. The soil and climatic conditions of the Saratov region are generally favorable for the cultivation of potatoes, which determines its important economic importance in the region. At the same time, significant changes have occurred in potato growing in the region in recent years. The use of energy-intensive technologies and limited energy resources have led to an increase in the cost of potato production. As a result, the public sector has significantly reduced the area under potato and the volume of its production. Thus, the share of agricultural enterprises and farms in potato production in the Saratov region decreased from 22% in 1990 to 5% in 2012.
The current situation had a negative impact on the stable supply of potatoes to the urban population, especially in the winter-spring period, led to a deterioration in the quality of products, contributed to a decrease in the competitiveness of local potatoes compared to products from the Penza, Tambov, Voronezh regions and other nearby regions of Russia, as well as from abroad .
Despite objective difficulties, the following factors contribute to the development of potato production in the region:
— traditionally high and sustainable consumption of potatoes by the population;
— favorable natural and climatic conditions in most of the region;
— high fertility of chernozem soils in the Right Bank, the northern and central parts of the Left Bank, where it is possible to organize stable production of potatoes under irrigation;
— developed transport and information infrastructure;
— the presence of connections for scientific support of the industry from the All-Russian Research Institute of Potato Farming (VNIIKH, Moscow region), Saratov State Agrarian University named after. N.I. Vavilov”, Research Institute of Agriculture of the South-East and Penza Research Institute of Agriculture;
— implementation of large investment projects to develop production and improve the potato storage system (in October 2012, an agreement was concluded with the Malino company, which is developing modern potato growing technologies in many regions of Russia);
— effective measures of state support for potato producers from the regional budget.
In recent years, agricultural enterprises and farms have noted a more significant increase in potato yields compared to household farms (table). However, the sown areas are small - in 2012, in agricultural enterprises of the region, potatoes were grown on an area of 0,5 thousand hectares and in K(F)H - 0,7 thousand hectares. Only in five farms the potato sown area was more than 50 hectares (RosAgro-Zavolzhye LLC in Krasnokutsk district, Rubin farm in Bazarno-Karabulak district, VIT LLC, Shcherenko P.Yu. peasant farm and Kryuchkova M.P. farm ." Engels region). In 2013, over 35 large, medium and small agricultural producers were engaged in potato cultivation in the Saratov region. At the same time, already in eight farms the potato area exceeded 50 hectares.
Dynamics of potato production in the Saratov region
Index | 2011 g | 2012 g | November 2013, XNUMX |
Potato growing area, thousand hectares | 27,0 | 26,8 | 25,4 |
Potato yield, c/ha | 157,6 | 132,3 | 144,6 |
Gross potato harvest, thousand tons | 425,8 | 354,6 | 353,4 |
Further development of potato growing should be aimed at providing the urban population of the region with quality products, primarily in the winter-spring period. The volume of potato consumption during this period of time, based on reasonable medical standards (95 kg per year), can exceed 60,0 thousand tons. From 10 to 20 thousand tons of potatoes are imported into the region annually, a significant part of which can be produced in potato farms in the region. Also an important condition for the development of potato growing in the region should be the organization of a system for its storage, processing and sale.
In modern market conditions, it is important not only to produce high-quality potatoes, but also to preserve them until the new harvest, to give the products a marketable appearance, and to form large batches to ensure regular supplies to wholesale and retail trade organizations. This can be accomplished provided there is a developed storage and processing system.
Currently, in the region there are not enough special potato storage facilities equipped with mechanization, active ventilation and climate control systems. Potatoes are mainly stored in vegetable stores or outdated warehouses. The largest modern potato storage facilities, created in 2008-2012, operate in the peasant farm "Shcherenko P.Yu." and peasant farm "Kryuchkova M.P." Engels region.
Potato producers directly have potato storage capacity of about 10 thousand tons. It should be emphasized that storage facilities are distributed unevenly among commodity producers: 12 out of 35 large, medium and small potato producers have them. It is obvious that the existing storage facilities are not enough for the planned volume of potato production.
The creation of new warehouses is hampered by the high cost of their construction. The cost of constructing a potato storage facility with a volume of 1,5-2 thousand tons reaches 11-12 million rubles, with a volume of 3-3,5 thousand tons - 22-23 million rubles.
There are completely no potato processing enterprises in the region that could help agricultural producers with the efficient sale of products, as happens in Holland, Germany, Denmark, France, the USA and many other countries.
In order to develop potato growing in the region, a target program “Increasing potato production in the Saratov region for 2013-2013” was developed in 2015. The implementation of the Program provided for a gradual increase in the acreage of potatoes cultivated on the basis of modern technological and technical means, an increase in yield and gross production of potato products, the formation of a new material and technical base in potato farms, and the creation of additional jobs.
In 2013-2015, the Government of the Saratov Region plans to provide assistance to agricultural organizations and farms engaged in potato production in the acquisition of machinery and tools, seeds and mineral fertilizers, etc., which will ensure an increase in gross potato yields by 2015 compared to 2012 and 2013 by 1,9 and 1,5 times, respectively.
The implementation of a set of measures of state support for potato growing at the expense of the budget of the Saratov region will help increase the investment attractiveness of this industry for agricultural enterprises and farms.
1. Carrying out rational distribution of potatoes in the region by volume of use, optimizing the placement of varieties and organizing elite seed production.
Industrial cultivation of potatoes on rainfed soil is planned to be developed in Bazarno-Karabulaksky, Novoburassky, Lysogorsky and other regions of the Right Bank. In the arid Left Bank, irrigated lands of farms in the Engels, Sovetsky, Krasnokutsky, Marksovsky and other districts will be allocated for potato production.
The most productive and adapted to the soil and climatic conditions of the region are special drought-resistant potato varieties created by domestic breeders of the All-Russian Research Institute of Agriculture and the Penza Research Institute of Agriculture specifically for the Volga region. At the same time, to extend the terms of consumption, it is recommended to grow varieties of different ripeness groups - early ripening varieties for summer consumption; mid-season - for autumn; late-ripening - for use in winter and early spring.
2. The organization of elite seed production in the region.
Elite potato seed production will be developed in agricultural organizations of the northern microzone of the Right Bank, where there is no likelihood of crops becoming infected with viral diseases and progressive seed production technologies are used (summer planting, varietal weeding, integrated plant protection system, etc.). Specialists from VNIIKH and Saratov State Agrarian University will provide scientific support for elite seed production. To develop zonal seed production, it is necessary, first of all, to create conditions for the sale of seeds of potato varieties created by domestic breeders.
3. The introduction of modern resource-saving technologies for growing potatoes.
The key event in the implementation of the Program is the introduction of modern technologies for growing potatoes based on biologization and resource saving. They must be differentiated depending on the soil and climatic conditions of various microzones of the region and the material and technical base of farms.
Biologized technology involves the cultivation of perennial grasses and green manures, the use of biological products for the treatment of tubers and potato crops (Baikal EM-1, mizorin, rizoagrin, flavobacterin, etc.), which make it possible to reduce the application of mineral and organic fertilizers while maintaining the balance of organic matter and soil fertility. The use of biological preparations for plant protection (boverine, trichogramma, etc.) will reduce the cost of pesticides and ensure the production of environmentally friendly products. To reduce the stress impact of drought in our area, the use of special biological anti-stress agents is recommended.
4. Comprehensive technical modernization of the potato industry.
To conduct modern potato growing in the region, it is planned to equip farms of agricultural producers with resource- and energy-efficient machines and equipment for the production, sorting and storage of tubers, taking into account the characteristics of different forms of management. The main criteria for choosing equipment: reliability, versatility, availability of spare parts and guaranteed prompt service.
5. Increasing the irrigated potato area through the restoration of existing and creation of new irrigation areas.
Growing potatoes under irrigation not only reduces natural risks, but also significantly increases the economic efficiency of its production. The yield of products from irrigated potato plots is two times higher than from similar plots without irrigation, and labor productivity and the efficiency of using material and technical resources, including fertilizers, increase three to five times.
Along with the widespread modernization of the existing Fregat and Volzhanka irrigation machines, in areas with light and medium-textured soils, it is planned to more actively switch to modern resource-saving irrigation systems - low-volume drum-type machines, fine dispersed and drip irrigation.
6. Reconstruction of existing and construction of new potato storage facilities.
To provide the population of the Saratov region with potatoes all year round, it is recommended to build modern potato storage facilities with a capacity of at least 40 thousand tons of tubers, equipped with ventilation systems, climate control and means of mechanization of loading and unloading of products.
At large potato storage facilities, enterprises for primary (semi-finished products) and deep (alcohol, starch, chips, French fries, etc.) processing of potatoes will be created. This area is planned to be developed within the framework of an agreement with the Malino company.
7. Creation of logistics centers for storage, processing and sale of potatoes from local agricultural producers.
The organization of logistics centers will significantly increase the competitiveness of potatoes from local agricultural producers.
8. Targeted contract training of specialists.
Targeted contract training of specialists for potato growing will be carried out by the Saratov State Agrarian University, whose teaching staff is currently training highly qualified specialists for the agro-industrial complex. It is possible to train a special group of masters in the field of Potato Growing.
9. Improved qualifications of specialists from agricultural organizations and heads of agricultural enterprises involved in potato production.
The program provides for annual advanced training of potato growers at courses organized in the winter at the training center at the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Professional Education "Saratov State Agrarian University named after. N.I. Vavilov” together with the regional ICS.
During the potato growing season, it is planned to hold a series of scientific and practical seminars on the basis of leading potato-growing farms in the region, aimed at both training and exchange of experience between event participants. As part of the annual regional exhibition and demonstration “Field Day”, managers and specialists of the potato growing industry will get acquainted with the latest models of agricultural machines and implements and promising potato varieties.