"Tsar-pumpkin" weighing 591 kg was crowned in the Stavropol Territory

Специалисты филиала ФГБУ «Россельхозцентр» по Ставропольскому краю в воскресенье, 3 сентября, приняли участие в арбитражном судействе всероссийского фестиваля бахчеводов «Агробатл - 2023» по определению органолептических показателей и сахаристости продукции, а также в определение массы арбузов и тыкв. Участники соревновались в номинациях «Самый большой арбуз», «Самая большая тыква», «Самый сладкий арбуз», «Самая сладкая дыня» (взрослая и детская категория).

The event was organized for the fifth time in the Bakhcha Ponomarev Agrotourism Park in the Grachevsky District of the Stavropol Territory. A stunning picture opened up on that day in the park to the eyes of those present: huge watermelons, melons, pumpkins, squash and zucchini proudly reclined on straw pedestals and on the platforms of trucks, delighting with their unprecedented size, juiciness and brightness of colors. These giants were photographed with pleasure by adults and children , they were filmed by journalists.

How many years the festival has been going on, the same number of years traditionally specialists from the Stavropol branch of the Rosselkhozcenter have been involved in arbitration. This time, too, they brought with them all the equipment necessary to determine the SUGAR content of the "competitors" and, under the attentive gaze of many spectators and farmers, carried out a qualitative and professional analysis.

- After examining several watermelons for sugar content, our judges gave the first place in the nomination "The sweetest watermelon" to the HEAD of the K (F) H "Ponomarevo" Roman Ponomarev from the Stavropol Territory and the head of the K (F) H Taras Shilov from the Krasnodar Territory - in the submitted by them samples contained the same amount of sugar 10.6%, - said Svetlana Sidorova, deputy head of the Stavropol branch of the Rosselkhoztsentr. - In the nomination "The largest pumpkin", where the specialists of the branch also acted as arbitrators, the first place was awarded to the head of the K (F) X Andrey Gusev from the Moscow region, who grew the pumpkin "Warrior" weighing 591 kg. The second place went to the pumpkin "Manya", for the cultivation of which up to a weight of 566.5 kg Elena Agafonova from the Krasnodar Territory put a lot of effort. Armen Kulakhszyan from the Krasnodar Territory closes the top three with a pumpkin "Olesya" weighing 446 kg.

In the adult nomination "the biggest watermelon", the first place was given to the head of the K (F) X Kamil Mamedov from the city of Astrakhan, Astrakhan region, who annually takes part in the "Agrobattle" with great enthusiasm. The representative of the host country, farmer Roman Ponomarev, grew the sweetest melon and received the laurels of the winner in this nomination. All winners of Agrobatla 2023 received large cash prizes and gift certificates from sponsors.

The All-Russian festival of melon growers was very bright, in an atmosphere of healthy competition, general fun and celebration. This was facilitated by a wonderful program prepared by the Ponomarev farm. Both the head of the farm, Alexander Nikolaevich Ponomarev, and his son and right hand Roman Ponomarev put their labor and love into the work on the land, and in addition to growing crops, they show creativity and a creative streak. Their desire to show the dignity and all the "zest" of the Stavropol Territory to its residents and guests from other regions is admired by fellow countrymen and supported by Governor Vladimir Vladimirov, the regional Ministry of Agriculture. Addressing the welcome speech to the contestants and guests of Agrobatla-2023, the Minister of AgricultureSergei Izmalkov emphasized the initiative of the Ponomarev farming family, their contribution to the popularization of rural labor, the development of agritourism, and assured that the Ministry of Agriculture of the Stavropol Territory is always ready to support such farmers. Olga Kuznetsova, acting head of the branch of the Rosselkhozcenter in the Stavropol Territory, is of the same opinion:

“Today we witnessed and participated in a bright and colorful event, where everything was thought out to the smallest detail: a lot of interactive entertainment for children, amateur performances with local flavor, photo zones and other interesting points,” Olga Kuznetsova noted. - This agricultural festival will remain a bright page in the memory of all participants, and most importantly, it will be inextricably linked with our fertile land, its inexhaustible fertility, the breadth of the soul of our residents. I have no doubt that each of those who visited Agrobattle-2023 will want to return here more than once. I hope that after this holiday, many will look at the work of a farmer from a different angle, someone will want to devote themselves to the profession of an agronomist or other rural specialist. I was very pleased with the appearance of the nomination "Children", this is a great contribution of the peasant farm to the involvement of the younger generation in rural work and the noble profession of an agronomist in our agricultural region. The Stavropol branch of the Rosselkhozcenter, for its part, provides this wonderful farm with all kinds of support in the process of growing crops. We have already reached an agreement on the further popularization of agricultural activities in the region and the creation of the All-Russian "Book of Agricultural Records". Rosselkhoztsentr, as an independent state institution, will not only act as an arbitrator, but also keep an official record of these records. Our ties with the Ponomarev farms serve a common cause - providing the Stavropol region with healthy and competitive products, improving the image of the agricultural industry, attracting new young personnel to it and educating young people to love their native land.