Farmers begin to prepare for the sowing campaign long before the tractors enter the field. Harvesting seeds, buying fertilizers, repairing equipment and much more, which will ultimately ensure a good harvest. Armat Bisenov, head of AgroService-Batys LLP (West Kazakhstan region) - representative of the Association of Young Farmers. He told the ElDala.kz portal about how the preparations for the sowing campaign are going and what strategy he has chosen for the current season.
“We divide the assessment of readiness for the start of spring field work into three key factors: technical readiness, financial and material and personnel readiness,” said Armat Bisenov (pictured). - Technically, we are 95% ready. Everything is in perfect order, except for one sowing complex - there are missing spare parts, the delivery time of which was delayed.
But there are big difficulties in the financial and material part. We work with a credit partnership and the Agrarian Credit Corporation under the Ken Dala and AgroBusiness programs. For two months they have been dragging out with the decision to allocate funds, everyone is referring to each other. Every two or three days they send us questions about our business plan. And very strange ones - “what is plant protection products”, “write down what each of the items is for”, “why one wheat no longer requires seeds, but the other one needs it” (we are talking about winter and spring). Another factor is a very low mortgage valuation. From the real market price, real estate in the city is reduced by 40%. Real estate in the countryside and equipment - by 60%. On average, only 50% of the market price is agreed upon.
In general, financial readiness is weak. We are helped only by the fact that many suppliers of plant protection products, seeds, fertilizers and even fuels and lubricants are getting into position and lending their products. This is the work of our team. The production workers, suppliers and financier (risk manager rolled into one), having thought through various scenarios of working with credit institutions in advance, secured themselves - and they were right.
But our staff readiness is 100%. The men are ready to take to the field as soon as conditions permit.
- What advice would you give to novice farmers: when is it necessary to start preparing for the sowing season? And from what?
- I would like to advise young novice farmers to work with strong neighbors for at least one season. So that regional differences (soil, moisture, microclimate) are minimal. If a person asks about the basics of agronomy and engineering, then he is not yet ready for an independent season. Here technology and timing are of key importance.
And if you are already going to go into the field alone, then be prepared to invest in the ground. Stock up on money. Not only credit, but also their accumulated funds. And do not pull them ahead of credit. Because, having spent them and relying on a loan, you can suffer greatly due to funding delays, which means you can’t withstand the technology and burn out in the season. In general, everything is important: seeds, plant protection products, soil preparation, processing equipment, work speed, your climatic conditions, and your people. All this is superimposed on the technological map, and after that you consider how much money you need and how much profit you will get from it.
- How many people work for you? What is the salary for mechanics?
- During the season, we employ up to 60 people: 10 of them are the administrative part, 50 are our production heroes. Last year, during the season, the salary of operators of low-power tractors reached 200 thousand tenge, operators of powerful tractors and combines reached 500 thousand tenge. Plus there are bonuses at the end of the year, and that's not counting taxes. If we calculate the entire annual earnings, dividing by 12 months, then it comes out from 120 to 300 thousand tenge per month on average.
- Is the farm experiencing a shortage of personnel?
- We do not experience staff shortages; over the past three years, 12 people aged 21 to 35 have joined our team. This is a good indicator. I believe that personnel problems are problems that lie in the leaders themselves. Those who do not want to teach anyone anything, but expect everyone to be ready-made first-class specialists. But this does not happen, even in Soviet times this was not the case. Everyone was taught, and those who fell in love with this business remained in the village. How do we solve this issue: you need to work with a team, there must be a team spirit. Conditions for living in the countryside should be created. All this is in our hands, we need to devote time to this, be patient.
What crops do you prioritize?
- Last year we tried to get out of the cereal monoculture and got good results in sunflower and safflower. This year we are already introducing them into the crop rotation. Sunflower wedge - 2000 ha, safflower - 1400 ha. Winter wheat has always been and remains a priority for us due to double moisture accumulation. It is in our crop rotation - 3000 hectares. Spring cereals - barley, soft and durum wheat - occupy a small share, approximately 1100 hectares. We are also introducing a new legume crop for us - this is chickpeas. Last year, 50 hectares were sown, this year it is already 200 hectares. Its function for the next two or three years is the accumulation of nitrogen in the soil, as well as the formation of a seed fund. And then we will think about sales and earnings. Now we are considering the financial component and the potential of culture. And, of course, where are we without steam in our climate zone. 3400 hectares were left for fallow. We want to sow winter crops such as wheat, barley and rapeseed in August.
- All regions of Kazakhstan suffered from last year's drought. How can losses from lack of moisture be minimized?
- Yes, almost all regions suffered from last year's heat. In our country, for example, during flowering in the heat, all cereal crops suffered - this is winter and spring wheat. Due to the 42-46-degree heat, the spike was sterilized, flowering took place only in its middle. We understood what we need to do under such stress - to give fertilizers with such a trace element as boron. European specialists were consulted on this matter. We have already prepared and will work if the situation repeats itself. In general, we must do everything that depends on us, and for this we need good knowledge of agronomy. So our personal desire and study will always be a priority. And already further - the implementation of these technologies on the field. Yes, of course, we are now experimenting with new, more drought-resistant crops such as safflower, flax, sorghum, millet. You should always look for something better. And so I advise all my colleagues to engage in experiments in their fields. Nobody wants to mess around in small plots, but you need to understand that this is your future. So build it now.
- What are your expectations for the new season?
- We must be ready for any development of events. No moisture - work as antistress agents, amino acids. If there is a lot of moisture - work on diseases. Weeds have appeared - remove them from the field, because they also take moisture. Work on diseases, pests, weeds, and even plant nutrition - all this is the primary struggle for the limiting factor - for moisture. After all, culture must develop in such a way that it has enough of everything in all phases, then it will consume a minimum and give a maximum effect.
But in general, if we talk about our feelings, we are waiting for a favorable, fruitful year. Year of the Tiger after all! And we are all tigers in our fields.