“Gomselmash” Takes Active Part in Union Programme on Agricultural Machinery Construction

Today about 80-85% of key machinery in Russian fleet of farming machines is beyond its service life. Meanwhile, per annum only 0.5-2% of these machines is renewed whereas 7-10% of farming machines is scrapped every year. Thereat farmland areas and as a consequence total output of agricultural production are curtailed. For example, the territory of Russian arable land has decreased by 30%. This means that approximately 40 million ha of land is out of crop rotation. Grassing and bushing, they lose their fertility and become unfit for cultivating crops.

Today about 80-85% of key machinery in Russian fleet of farming machines is beyond its service life. Meanwhile, per annum only 0.5-2% of these machines is renewed whereas 7-10% of farming machines is scrapped every year. Thereat farmland areas and as a consequence total output of agricultural production are curtailed. For example, the territory of Russian arable land has decreased by 30%. This means that approximately 40 million ha of land is out of crop rotation. Grassing and bushing, they lose their fertility and become unfit for cultivating crops.

At present Russian agricultural machinery construction is in a difficult situation mainly owing to low solvency of agricultural goods producers and outdated technological base. In Belarus the situation is much better. For instance, while Russia produces annually only 8-9 thousand tractors, Belarusian Minsk Tractor Plant turns out more than 50 thousand machines. However, Belarusian agricultural manufacturers also have something to think about. The issue of a more efficient and less-energy-consuming cultivation of land has become the problem of today, especially in the light of continuously rising fuel prices and expected world food crisis.

In 2006 the programme “Establishment and organization of serial production of highly productive agricultural machinery on the basis of an all-purpose mobile energy tool for the years 2006-2009” reached its implementation phase. The main purpose of this programme was to provide technical support for Belarusian and Russian agriculture, restoring and renewing the fleet of farming machines. State owners were Russian Ministry of Industry and Energy as well as Belarusian Ministry of Industry. Principal developers and implementers of the programme became Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences and production association “Gomselmash”.

At present PA “Gomselmash” takes an active part in 6 activities of the joint programme on agricultural machinery construction. It develops the structure of an all-purpose energy tool УЭС -290/450, the structure of a highly-productive mounted feed-harvesting combine КНК - 500 for УЭС -290/450 as well as the structure of a cropper-crusher КПН -6- Ф for УЭС - 210/280. Introduction of such highly productive complexes of quick-detachable block-module machines is strategic for technical re-equipment of Belarusian and Russian agricultural production on a resource-saving basis.

One all-purpose energy tool with a set of quick-detachable machines for harvesting feed, grass, grain, sugar-beet and potatoes and also with a set of multifunctional combined units for tilling, fertilizer application, seeding and packing, improvement of hayfields and pastures will replace 4-5 expensive dedicated self-propelled combines whose annual use does not exceed 200-300 hours as well as several machine-tractor harvesters with one-operation machines and tools.

As was reported by Vladimir Frolov, Director of PA “Gomselmash” marketing-centre, the amount of financing appointed to Belarusian party makes up RUB111 million. “All the work is done as provided by the schedule, the programme is financed in proper time and in corpore,” stressed Vladimir Frolov.

The experts point out that the efficient use of machines on the basis of an all-purpose energy tool will let cover purchase expenses in 1.5-2 years. Consuming half as much materials, the machines on the basis of an all-purpose energy tool will also cost twice as little; they will save labour and fuel as well as preserve the environment since they exert less pressure upon the ground.