Meetings with colleagues, exchange of best practices, discussion of new achievements on the eve of the new season - all these tasks were carried out by the traditional February forum in Cheboksary. The inter-regional exhibition “Potatoes” gathered industry professionals for the twelfth time at its site.
This year 88 exhibitors from 24 regions of Russia, as well as from the Republic of Belarus took part in the exhibition. At the stands were presented the new and most demanded potato varieties, technological and technical solutions in the field of production, storage, processing, packaging and transportation of potatoes, fertilizers and plant protection products, agricultural machinery and equipment.
Business program
An integral part of the forum was the scientific and practical conference "Potato growing in Russia: actual problems of selection and seed production."
The conference participants were greatly interested in the speech of the director of the All-Russian Research Institute of Potato Economy named after A.G. Lorha, chairman of the scientific and technical program of the subprogram “Development of selection and seed production of potatoes” Sergei Zhevora. Sergey Valentinovich spoke about the results of the implementation of the comprehensive research plan (KPNI) under the subprogram “Development of selection and seed production of potatoes in the Russian Federation” for the period 2018-2019. ” In particular, he introduced new domestic varieties created by the participants of the subprogram: Varyag (Middle Early, table. Patentee: FSBIU VNIIKH) and Triumph (Early ripe, table. Patentee: FSBNU Omsk ANC).
With no less attention, the audience reacted to the speech of Dinar Kamaldinov, an agricultural manager of LEM Weston Belaya Dacha LLC, who introduced agricultural producers to the requirements for the quality of raw materials imposed by the enterprise.
Maria Kuznetsova, Head of the Department of Potato and Vegetable Diseases at the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution VNIIF, Ph.D., made a presentation on the topic of “Reducing the harmfulness of the most dangerous diseases of potato in modern agriculture”. Maria Alekseevna dwelled in detail on the causes and consequences of late blight, emphasizing that in the context of global changes in climatic conditions, massive violation of crop rotation rules, incorrect treatment with fungicides, this disease manifests itself in the fields earlier and earlier.
The business program also included two round tables on the topics “Development of selection and seed production of potatoes. New promising varieties of Russian originators ”and“ Innovative technologies for the production and processing of potatoes and the possibility of developing a common market within the EAEU (on the example of agricultural enterprises of the Potato Union).
Speaking at the first of them, the Director General of the Scientific and Practical Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus for Potato and Horticulture Vadim Makhanko acquainted the meeting participants with the achievements of the potato growers of the Republic of Belarus in 2019. Vadim Leonidovich noted that the average potato yield in the country exceeded the level of 30 t / ha, and in some enterprises (peasant farm Diana) it rose to a record 62,8 t / ha, despite the fact that 75% of the varieties grown on the farm - Belarusian selection.
Speaking about the main directions of potato selection in the Republic, Vadim Makhanko emphasized the need to expand the line of varieties for processing: the construction of a plant for the production of french fries is nearing completion. The company will produce about 4 thousand tons of products per year.
But whether Russian potato growers will be able to use the latest achievements of Belarusian breeders is still a question. Starting January 1, 2020, conducting variety testing in Russia will cost breeding companies a very serious amount, and as noted by the General Director of the National Research and Production Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus for Potato and Horticulture, he does not see a solution to this problem at the moment.
About tasty
On the first day of the exhibition, a tasting of the “Barin” chips produced by JSC “Ozyory” in the Moscow Region took place. Chips with flavors “bacon”, “salt”, “paprika”, “sour cream and onion”, “sour cream and dill”, “jellied horseradish”, “four cheeses” were presented. According to the results of the vote, the salt product won.
The next day, another tasty event was waiting for the exhibition guests - a tasting of table potato varieties. Visitors could taste the product of domestic and foreign varieties. In the list of Russian were: Navigator (mid-season), Beauty Meshchera (mid-season), Sadon (mid-season). Foreign achievements were represented by: Memphis (mid-early), Laura (mid-early), Krone (mid-early). The tasting participants liked the Krasa Meshchera and Krone varieties the most.
And interesting
The center of attraction for visitors to the exhibition has traditionally become a stand on which a collection of 120 potato varieties was presented. These included table varieties, varieties for dietary (medical) nutrition, special varieties for processing into potato products (fries, chips, mashed potatoes), and technical varieties for the production of starch.
The admiration of the audience was also worthy of the work of the participants of the republican contest “Potatoes and Traditions”, which adorned the exhibition pavilion.
And one more pleasant thing: a festive lottery was organized for visitors to the exhibition, many received valuable prizes from sponsors participating in the exhibition.