Now they are busy planting cabbage and lettuce.
In Almetievsk, work continues in the vegetable valley, it was founded 5 years ago. Farmers are busy planting cabbage and lettuce. Spring has been long now, so the work on planting seedlings of vegetables is already a little late. However, as the farmers themselves admit, if there were weather, there are no problems with the equipment, the workers are coping.
- 8-12 people are involved in planting seedlings, they work mainly in two shifts. We can finish planting cabbage in 6-8 days. This is done using a special machine. It allows you to land as quickly and efficiently as possible,” says cooperator Shamil Safiullin.
Shamil became a farmer for the sake of interest – he did not have the appropriate education and work experience. I started by renting 3 hectares of land and planting Chinese cabbage. Today, his fields are the largest in the cooperative, occupying over 80 hectares. He grows cabbage, lettuce, some carrots, beets, and tries potatoes. This year he is planting cabbage on an area of 22 hectares. According to him, this is one of the most popular vegetables among the population, for example, in past seasons, 20 tons of cabbage and only 2 tons of lettuce were sold.
Co-op to help you
Five years ago, a vegetable cluster was created in Almetievsk, which brought together farmers who want to grow vegetables and berries on their native land. The decision was strategically adjusted even for those times. Well, now our own production, and not waiting for deliveries from abroad, is one of the most important tasks facing our country. Moreover, the climate and composition of the soil allow this to be done.
They got down to business with all seriousness: they found suitable areas for the construction of an irrigation system, purchased equipment, and built a vegetable store. All this was done thanks to state subsidies, supported by Tatarstan oilmen.
Today the cooperative unites 27 farmers and enterprises. Each has its own area, and cultivated crops may be different. Someone prefers to grow in a greenhouse, someone in an open field. Some are planted manually under the film, others use an automated method using special equipment.
- The task of the state, as the main investor and customer, was to unite farmers into one cooperative so that they could all use a single base of equipment, an irrigation system and premises for storing their crops. Imagine how much capital a farmer needs if he buys all this himself?! Therefore, this form of work was chosen. In addition, all of them can use the same services of local specialists and logistics, which solves issues related to the sale of products,” commented Zulfira Khusaenova, engineer of the cooperative.
Technology followed
There are no special secrets in growing vegetables. First, sowing seeds – one at a time in the cassette cell. For this, special domestic-made equipment is used, which allows 144 seeds to be sown in one movement. Then all this is moved to a greenhouse with a special temperature and humidity. One can fit 216 thousand roots, which are subsequently planted on five hectares of land.
Previously, when everything was done by hand, it took 5-6 days for one greenhouse, now they cope with the same volume in two days. In a greenhouse, depending on the type of crop, seed cassettes are kept from 25 to 35 days. After the seedlings are planted either in open ground or under a film. Then it remains to water, loosen the soil, get rid of weeds and pests in a timely manner. And wait until the harvest is ripe. The only difference from gardeners is the scale of production, respectively, and labor resources.
The villagers are coming
Shamil Safiullin alone employs 20 people all year round, during the season the number of employees ranges from 40 to 100 people. The average salary is 40 thousand rubles.
Mostly residents of the villages of Almetyevsk and Zainsky districts come. The contingent is generally the same. Work, of course, cannot be called dust-free, but working in the fresh air is a pleasure. At the very least, you can arrange occupational therapy on the weekends. Tatyana Chernova has been working here for the second season, she is from Buta.
- As a child, we lived in Kazakhstan, my mother worked in a greenhouse, I often went to help her. Therefore, I come here with pleasure. Plus, they pay well,” she says.
Galina Litovchenko arrives in the Almetyevsk region from Gulkino, in the Zainsky region.
“The conditions for us, rural residents, are quite familiar: the sun, the wind, the open field,” says Galina. – People are familiar, with many found a common language and made friends last year. Time allows me, a pensioner, and my health, too, they bring, they take away – just work!
