“Nothing is insignificant in our business.” Director of Komarovka Agro about the work of rural workers

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The fields of the Komarovka Agro branch of Batchi OJSC are literally located on the very edge of the Brest region. The farm's land covers about 7.8 thousand hectares. The harvest has already been harvested and the sowing of winter crops has been completed , but work on the land does not stop. Farmers cultivate the soil, apply mineral fertilizers, and harvest organic matter. All this is the groundwork for the 2024 harvest .

Miracles don't happen by themselves

– In fact, a new agricultural period has already begun. As soon as we carry out autumn plowing, we actually begin activities that involve contributing to the future harvest. We don’t have a stop, everything is interconnected,” Nikolai Tsaruk , DIRECTOR of the Komarovka Agro branch, emphasized .

A certain lull in agriculture occurs at the end of November - in December. When there is significantly less field work, many machine operators take vacations. In winter, equipment is repaired and prepared for the new season.

– We are engaged in dairy and beef cattle breeding, growing industrial crops – winter and spring rapeseed, wheat, rye, barley, millet, buckwheat, peas, corn. This year, 11.4 thousand tons of grain were harvested - almost 28% more compared to 2022. We received more than 2 thousand tons of rapeseed – an increase of 15.6%. But the most important thing is gross output . In January-September the growth rate was 119%. This is everything we produced: from MILK to straw,” noted the HEAD of Komarovka Agro.

Nikolay Tsaruk believes that there are many components that go into successful work in crop farming, but he identifies three main factors. We are talking about favorable weather, hard work of workers and proper adherence to technology. Villagers say with gratitude that this year the weather contributed to a good harvest. At the same time, they did everything possible to get the maximum from the fields. In particular, the farm takes a serious approach to variety change and seed variety renewal, about 80% of which are produced in-house.

– Miracles do not happen by themselves. If there is a flaw somewhere, it will definitely show itself. Every component is important; there is nothing insignificant in our work. Many factors played a role in ensuring that we achieved a successful outcome. Although we still have room to grow, there is no limit to perfection. The farming culture is getting better every year,” the director emphasized.

In this matter, digital technologies come to the aid of people. Farmers actively use navigation in their work. For example, the steering system allows for more efficient seed distribution during sowing. Energy-rich tractors are a big help. They do the work that several tractors used to do.

Tractor driver Sergei Lyalko is assigned three units of equipment - a sprayer, a universal and an energy-rich tractor. The current season is over, machine operators are putting unclaimed equipment into storage. Later they will begin preparing it for the new season and repairing it.

– Taking good care of technology is our livelihood. If we stand for repairs, then we won’t earn anything. We try to prevent breakdowns, and for this we undergo regular technical inspections in order to notice and eliminate problems in time,” said the farmer. And he added that machine operators mostly handle the repairs of their equipment themselves. If necessary, locksmiths will always come to the rescue.

Sergey came to agriculture 13 years ago. I worked for four years and decided to try my hand at forestry, but returned this year.

– I have always been drawn to this industry, and the salary here has become higher. It’s interesting to me because everything is constantly changing, the work is not monotonous. Our state rests on agriculture. I want to help, to contribute to the general well-being,” the worker noted philosophically.

In the spring, machine operators begin field work, in the summer - harvesting , and in the fall - sowing and fodder procurement again. In winter, the equipment is also not idle - workers remove organic matter and maintain farms.

The harvest is just space

It’s nice to see how the Komarovka Agro team is dedicated to the cause. A year ago, winter barley was sown on the farm for the first time. Everyone was waiting to see how this culture would show itself on the Brest lands. According to preliminary calculations, they thought it would be 68-70 c/ha. However, the result exceeded expectations - a yield of 84.8 centners was obtained from 1 hectare.

“We worked hard to get such a harvest.” When the combines started harvesting, of course, we were surprised. To get almost 800 tons of grain from 93 hectares is simply cosmic. This year we sowed a little more winter barley. I was also pleased with winter rapeseed. This is a highly profitable crop. We also gained our first experience in growing spring rape,” said the director of the enterprise.

The efforts of Komarovka Agro workers did not go unnoticed. At the regional "Dazhynki" the enterprise was recognized as one of the best and, as the winner in its category, was awarded a prize of the Brest Regional Executive Committee in the amount of 200 basic units. The money was fairly distributed among those who contributed to the harvest.

– It’s interesting to compete! This year we managed to win. In a sense, this pleases your pride and encourages you to further improve. And if you don’t plan anything, don’t build, don’t work with dedication, there will be no result. Nothing is being done on its own,” Nikolai Tsaruk emphasized.

In addition, his organization became the best in the country in improving the machine yard, the readiness of the repair and maintenance base for work in winter conditions and the machine and tractor fleet for field work.

Idleness is not about them

There are six farms on the territory of the agricultural enterprise, four of which are dairy farms. There are about 5.8 thousand heads of cattle . 44 tons of milk are produced per day at the Komarovka Agro complexes. It is worth noting that all of it is 100% extra class. If we talk about beef cattle breeding, the gain on the farm is more than 1 kg per day.

- Of course, there are problems. It’s impossible to live without this in livestock farming, but we can cope. We are currently developing a technological map for our entire enterprise. We want to further synchronize our work so that our employees improve their professional level and eliminate moments of idleness. No one in the Brest region has such a technical map yet,” noted the head of the agricultural organization.

Nikolai Tsaruk compared the new flow chart to an air flight instruction manual, which clearly states what to do in a given situation.

The head of the Komarovka dairy complex, Alexey Nikitenko, has been working in agriculture for a quarter of a century. Under his command are an assistant chief, a veterinary paramedic, six milkmaids, 12 livestock breeders, three mechanics, and a laboratory assistant. The manager's working day begins at half past six in the morning. He makes a tour of the complex, organizes the work of the team, and controls the process of feeding the animals. The first half of the day passes in such troubles. Then people go to lunch, and at six o’clock in the evening they return and work until ten o’clock. This schedule operates seven days a week, 365 days a year.

“In the morning everyone comes together at the same time and work begins: milking, cleaning, feeding. Everything works like clockwork . A cow is a social animal , she, like a person, gets used to a certain way of life. At six o’clock she must milk, then eat and rest for 12 hours,” explained Alexey Nikitenko.

His complex has 800 head of livestock. The workers have favorites among the cows and calves, to which they give affectionate nicknames: Bubochka, Romashka, Kvetochka, Zorka.

– The cows themselves choose us and come to our hands; we do not lure them. Then we reach out to them, pet them, give them nicknames,” said the head of the dairy complex.

He understands that his work is not easy. At the same time, he adds that every job is difficult. The main thing is to approach business responsibly.

- Yes, I get up early. But milkmaids and livestock breeders also wake up at the same time . This is already our way of life. We are responsible for those we have tamed. If we decide to care for animals, we must do it well,” emphasized Alexey Nikitenko.

By the way, soon a new livestock complex will appear on the farm . It will be built next to a dairy farm in the village of Priborovo in 2024–2025 according to the republican program. It is designed for 1 thousand dairy cows and will be made using the most modern approaches. In particular, delta-scraper manure removal systems and microclimate creation systems are provided. The site will house two buildings 250 meters long, each with capacity for 500 head of cattle . There are no similar complexes on the territory of Komarovka Agro yet.

– Pre-project documentation has already been developed, design work is underway, and the project will be in our hands presumably in mid-December. Construction will begin next year. We expect that the animals will feel more comfortable in the new complex, and we will be able to increase milk yield. They intend to reconstruct the existing farm in Priborovo to create a complex with a closed cycle,” explained the director of the enterprise.

The first building of the livestock complex should be put into operation in 2024. In general, the farm intends to implement what is planned within two years.

Focus on youth

Komarovka Agro employs more than 300 people - both experienced farmers and young people.

Leading engineer of the mechanized section "Borisy" Alexander

Sokolovsky joined the team four years ago, coming to the distribution farm after graduating from the Belarusian State Agricultural and Technical University. According to the specialist, his colleagues received him cordially, and he immediately felt in demand.

– My responsibilities include technical support for agricultural processes: preparing equipment for all field work, timely repairs. In my department there are machine operators, turners, welders, mechanics,” said Alexander. “I’m a country boy; I’ve been drawn to technology since childhood. Grandfathers worked in agriculture. From an early age I was with them and took them for rides on a tractor. I liked it all and wanted to try it myself. I was not disappointed in my choice. Everything is fine.

The young man works side by side with both peers and those with many years of experience. The age difference does not interfere with building business relationships.

– I respect age. I try to find a common language with people who have been working for many years and make concessions somewhere. I learn from their experience and listen to their advice: they have been working for a long time, they have seen and know a lot,” added the leading engineer.

Talking with the employees of Komarovka Agro, we notice that people approach business in a businesslike manner. They are confident that they will receive good pay for their work.

– The team is well-coordinated, we manage to work as a single mechanism. There are “elders” - chief engineer Viktor Dulevsky and chief agronomist Yuri Mendelev; the farm has been running on them for many years. Wonderful specialists - about 30 years in agriculture. They work with interest and pass on their experience to young people,” Nikolai Tsaruk noted.

He himself can be called a person who lives in the interests of agriculture and his team.

It all starts from the ground

The leader emphasized that in the village people are simple people who work very hard. Their work is not eight-hour, but piecework. At the same time, you need to find an approach to each employee and customize it.

– Most people want an individual approach to themselves. Often you have to work longer, and sometimes a person needs to explain the reason. This applies more to young people. However, I would like to emphasize that there are many smart specialists among them,” said Nikolai Tsaruk.

He expressed concern (shared by many of his colleagues) that young men and women are reluctant to go into agriculture. And in this industry, probably like no other, you cannot lose the continuity of generations.

– Young people need to be taught and experience passed on. You can't miss this moment. There will be no one to grow bread - our state will not exist. Yes, now is the age of high technology. They make crazy money in the IT field . However, we can live without a computer. What about without food? As long as people eat, we will have work. “Everything starts from the land, from the farm,” the director of the enterprise is convinced.

Nikolai Tsaruk warmly and sincerely congratulated the staff of the Komarovka Agro branch of Batchi OJSC on the Day of Agricultural and Processing Industry Workers.

– We work 24/7, 365 days a year. I would like to wish my employees strength and HEALTH, fortitude, patience in this difficult work, so that they have enough enthusiasm, desire and opportunity to devote themselves to work the way we did this year,” the manager concluded.

At the regional "Dazhynki" the enterprise was recognized as one of the best and, as the winner in its category, was awarded a prize of the Brest Regional Executive Committee in the amount of 200 basic units. The money was fairly distributed among those who contributed to the harvest.

Soon the farm will have a new livestock complex. It will be built next to a dairy farm in the village of Priborovo in 2024–2025 according to the republican program. It is designed for 1 thousand dairy cows and will be made using the most modern approaches.

Alevtina CHERNOVOLOVA, photo - Vadim YAKUBENOK