Rice growers of Dagestan are preparing for the sowing campaign

On April 26, Sharip Sharipov, First Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Dagestan, visited the Kizlyar region in order to study the progress of preparations for the sowing of rice. Together with the HEAD of the Department of Agriculture Raisat Alilova and the chief agronomist of the department Alkhas Alkhasov, he got acquainted with the work of the largest rice-growing farm Sirius LLC.
According to the head of the farm, Abdul Hasanov, this year they intend to sow rice on an area of ​​more than 2,300 hectares. Much will depend on the availability of sufficient water. At the moment, work is underway on plowing, planning and preparing rice engineering systems. They suppress reeds, clean irrigation canals, provide support, including cleaning of inter-farm irrigation systems. Here they hope that this year the issue with irrigation water will not be acute.
This farm is engaged in other areas of crop production. it is planned to place open ground vegetables on an area of ​​240 hectares, at the moment seedlings are being planted, and for some late crops, seeds are being sown to obtain seedlings. Relevant activities on the technological map are carried out in the proper amount. This year, winter crops on the farm exceed 1,200 hectares; crops have been fertilized with liquid nitrogen fertilizers, which has a positive effect. At the same time, preparatory work is underway to carry out cotton sowing on an experimental basis.
According to Raisat Alilova, head of the district agricultural department, rice is planned to be planted in the Kizlyar region on an area of ​​17.5 thousand hectares. Rice farms are completing the preparation of seed material, as well as the implementation of other activities, primarily on the operational planning of rice engineering systems. Work is going on as usual.
Commenting on what he saw, Sharip Sharipov, First Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Dagestan, noted that in general, rice sowing in the area of ​​31 thousand hectares is to be carried out in Dagestan, of which almost 60% is located in the Kizlyar region. Significant areas for rice will also be allocated in Tarumovsky (about 4900 hectares), Babayurtovsky (2400 hectares) and Gunibsky (1800 hectares) districts.
“In general, 20 municipal districts are engaged in rice sowing. The low water content of the Terek is currently causing some concern among the rice growers of Dagestan. However, according to forecasts of the hydrometeorological service, the water content of the Terek and other waterways is expected to be higher than last year's figure. The main task that we focus rice growers on is to carefully prepare the seed and ensure strict observance of technological operations. Only relying on modern agricultural technologies can we work to improve production efficiency. It is gratifying that many leading rice farms are following this path, and other farms are adopting their experience,” said Sharip Sharipov.
He also drew attention to the issues of increasing aridity of the climate. Thus, in the main rice-growing zone for the period from December to March, less than a quarter of the average multi-year rainfall fell. In this regard, rice growers are encouraged to make careful, rational use of irrigation water, observe crop rotations, and introduce moisture-saving drought-resistant crops into crop rotation.
“We here at Sirius LLC see that these guidelines are being followed. For the first time in the agricultural practice of the republic, liquid nitrogen fertilizers were used in this farm, which allows them to be applied directly to the root system zone and provide prolonged nutrition. Such fertilizers contain three forms of nitrogen (ammonium, amide and nitrate), each form has a different effect on plants, is absorbed by them and interacts with the soil. The experience of this farm has already been intercepted by other farms, in particular LLC Niva, because in conditions of low moisture supply, the surface application of mineral fertilizers does not give the desired effect. Sirius LLC is also testing combinations of various complex mineral fertilizers, their effect on the yield of vegetable and melon crops. We intend to hold seminars on the basis of this farm to disseminate positive experience. It is also gratifying that today our leading farms have taken up the experimental cultivation of cotton. Cotton is also planted in this farm on an area of ​​20 hectares, appropriate scientific and methodological support has been organized,” said Sharip Sharipov.
The delegation also visited the vineyards of the district - KFH "Loza". We got acquainted with the state of the irrigation system. The farmer has certain questions related to the erosion and change in the course of the irrigation canal. The head of the farm, Ali Aliyev, outlined the severity of the current situation and asked for assistance in resolving the issue. We agreed to work out together with Dagmeliovodkhoz measures for the implementation of bank protection works.
Summing up the results of the trip, the First Deputy Minister noted that this year the rice growers of Dagestan intend to fulfill the task and carry out sowing in the planned volumes. On the whole, the spring sowing campaign in Dagestan is proceeding somewhat ahead of last year's pace; spring sowing is to be carried out on an area of ​​225,000 hectares, of which almost 100,000 hectares have been planted to date.