Potatoes in the fields of our region are as exotic as rice or cotton. In Soviet times, it was studied at state farms due to a general shortage of food. What makes agrarians tackle tubers unfavorable for the local nature now?
The largest areas under potatoes are in Gorodishchensky district. Last year, they cultivated it on 1293 hectares and harvested 42 thousand tons. The harvest for this climate zone and light chestnut soils is more than good, and compared to last year it has grown markedly.
For example, in one of the largest farms in 2018, the fees per hectare did not exceed 225 centners - now they reported about 393 centners.
“Farmers have not lagged behind in yield growth,” says Matvey Konyashin, head of the department for agriculture and ecology of the administration of the Gorodishchensky district. - For example, a year ago Dmitry Kobzev received 200 centners per hectare, and now this figure has risen to 350!
Of course, this is partly due to the introduction of modern technologies, the use of fertilizers and protective equipment, but the main thing is that last season the watering was extended for two weeks, here the results jumped. That is, in 2018, Volgogradmeliovodkhoz completed irrigation on September 1, and in 2019 on the 15th.
Gorodische farms use both sprinkling and drip irrigation. Each has its own advantages, who got used to what, but in general the experience of local potato growers is great, some have had it since the Soviet era, and they make full use of it in these difficult conditions. The head of the agricultural department is confident that the region will continue to hold a leading position in this industry.
Ten years to survive
Weather and climatic conditions in the Leninsky district are even more severe, but even here the potatoes began to take root. One of the pioneers in this business was the farmer Vladimir Vybornov.
“Even in our heat on irrigation, using elite and super-elite seed stocks, you can get crops,” Vladimir Vladimirovich believes and says that he uses the “evolved” variety for planting - medium early, high-yielding, with a red skin.
Candidate of Agricultural Sciences Vladimir Vybornov in practice found out the advantages of a hot climate: there are practically no potato diseases, pests - at least. But what about the Colorado potato beetle?
The farmer believes that this is not the worst. He plants potatoes in pairs, treating them with a continuous herbicide - not only harmful insects, but also weeds die. Yes, and on the vegetation of plants rows are spud twice, while destroying weed vegetation.
“Naturally, watering,” Vybornov repeats. - Basically, drip irrigation, when we do not have time, we use sprinkling.
You can’t do without fertilizers. Before planting potatoes, they do soil analysis and calculate what nutrients will be needed during the growing season and how much. Found out: mostly ordinary - nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium. By the way, I saw potato planting at the Vybornov farm in the summer. It is as if not in the semi-desert zone of the Volga region, in hell and on solid soil, but on fertile black soil there are bushes, green and even, there are neither sluggish nor dead.
The farmer has been engaged in potatoes for ten years, without missing a single season, and believes that the culture is worth it - it was not for nothing that he abandoned the carrots familiar in these parts (he also cultivated them for several years), and left the potatoes.
Competitive advantage
Farmer Natalya Serova from the Sredneahtubinsky district also gradually, from one hectare, began to work on potatoes. It shows the result in its own store: in some nets purchased in other areas, next to them are the same packaging with tubers grown locally. In appearance you can’t tell apart, except to taste.
Deputy Chairman of the regional agricultural committee Sergei Chumakov believes that no matter how much we want to improve the competitiveness of local potatoes, land reclamation is indispensable. And this is an additional cost.
In the south, potatoes ripen earlier, in the northern regions - the climatic conditions are better. What is the point of growing culture in our region?
“The advantages of our potatoes are different,” says Sergey Pavlovich. - After cleaning due to watering, it is always clean, which means that the technological costs of processing are reduced.
Basically, Volgograd farms supply tubers for the production of chips: 25 thousand tons every year, and this gives each agricultural enterprise the opportunity to build a clear model of its production. There are five main farms in the region, each concluding “long” contracts. The presence of our own storage facilities allows us to extend the delivery time until March and even April.
In this case, maybe it is worth increasing the area under crops? Sergei Chumakov believes that there is no reason for this yet. The market determined the area, so every year we will sow this crop on two thousand hectares, plus or minus 100 hectares.