Krasnodar rice: growing and harvesting

Rice is known to be a southern culture. The traditional region of its cultivation is Asia. However, rice is grown here in Russia. And most of the areas used for this culture, is concentrated in the Krasnodar Territory. Rice is grown in this region by special technology.

A bit of history: farms in the 1920s

To cultivate rice in the Kuban began even in the times of the USSR. In the 20-30 years in the Krasnodar region were drained large areas of floods overgrown with reeds. It is these damp earth and decided to use under the planting of rice. The area of the first experimental site allocated for this culture was 50 hectares. Created by domestic farmers, the new exclusive method of growing rice in the following years was constantly improved. At first, the yields of this crop in the Krasnodar Territory were only about 21-22 quintals per hectare. In the future, these indicators have increased steadily.

About 10 years after the beginning of cultivation of rice in the Kuban, two reservoirs were built, designed to create irrigation systems. They were designed in such a way that the water resources in the subsequent would be enough for 70 thousand hectares of rice fields.

The farms of the region in the times of the USSR

A completely irrigation system for this culture was created in the USSR by the 1980s. Until the 1990s, the rice industry was considered one of the most profitable in our country. The total area of cultivated fields was about 300 thousand hectares in Soviet times.

With the collapse of the country, the rice farms of the Krasnodar Territory fell into disrepair. In the 1990s, the yield of this crop in Russia approached the first historical indicators and amounted to only 25 hectares / centner. At the same time, sown areas were reduced to 90 thousand hectares.

Farm problems in our day

Today the rice industry of the Krasnodar Territory is reviving. In 2014, the area allocated for this culture, was already about 167 thousand hectares. But, unfortunately, the rice industry of the region is still experiencing some difficulties. So, for example, until 2016, no new irrigation system was built in the province. All used in the fields were created in Soviet times.

Rice growing in the Krasnodar Territory: features

Cultivated this southern plant in Russia on a special technology. The method of its cultivation, of course, is similar to that used in Asian countries. However, in the technology of rice cultivation in the Kuban there are also quite significant differences.

For example, Krasnodar rice is never cultivated in the same place from year to year for decades. The farms of the region must observe the rotation. Every two to three years, wheat or soybean is planted on the rice field . This allows to significantly increase crop yield and reduce the possibility of spoilage by pests.

Rice harvesting in the Krasnodar Territory is carried out only after the fields are completely drained. This is also one of the features of the technology used in southern Russia. In Asian countries, in most cases poor, the fields are usually not drained. Collect the rice there peasants often manually, directly in the water. Of course, work is very difficult. Russian farmers use this technique in cultivating and harvesting this crop, of course, modern technology.

In some areas of the province, and in particular, on the left bank of the Kuban, the thickness of the fertile soil layer in the fields is only about 15 cm. Therefore, when growing rice, local farms are forced to use quite a large number of fertilizers. In order for the groats to be supplied to the food industry enterprises and to the quality stores, before the introduction of fertilizing the agrarians conduct a thorough analysis of the leaves of the plants. In the laboratory, it is determined which substances are lacking in culture at a given time. In accordance with the received data, additional fertilizing is also carried out. The soil in this approach to the case is not contaminated by any excess chemicals.

How rice is grown in the Krasnodar Territory: technology

This culture is sown in the Kuban on checks. This is how small fields of 5 hectares are called. Rice is really a very unusual plant. Unlike most other varieties of cereals, it is able to transfer oxygen from the leaves to the roots. That is, it can be grown, being almost completely immersed in water.

The main elements of the irrigation system in the rice fields are:

• a source;
• Common distribution channel;
• Irrigation canals.

The source of water supply to the fields can be either an artificial reservoir, or the Kuban River or some nearby lake. Special distribution equipment is installed in the distribution channels. Irrigation trenches are separated from them by bolts. By the checks themselves, shallow grooves are dripped. When the valves are opened, water begins to flow into the irrigation canals. Further, it moves into the grooves on the checks and is distributed in all directions. Thus, flooding occurs. The water level is raised to the required level when planting about a day. Sometimes it takes a bit more time.

In order to monitor the level of water rising, the producer of Krasnodar rice sets on the checks special rails with a scale. Actually, the control is carried out by agronomists of farms during field trips. Workers-irrigators further, if necessary, raise or lower the gate valves of the channels, thereby regulating the level.

Yields and prospects

As already mentioned, the rice industry in the Krasnodar Territory continues to revive. To date, the yield of this crop in Russia is about 200 thousand tons of grain annually. To cover the internal needs of the country this is quite enough. Russia even has the opportunity to annually import about 50 thousand tons of cereals. The domestic Krasnodar rice is supplied mainly to the countries of the near abroad.

In terms of productivity, Russian farms in 2016, according to statistics, caught up with even the Italian. Comparison in this case can be carried out, since there are domestic complexes and farms of this southern state practically on one latitude. Italian varieties of rice in Russia, thanks to the use of modern domestic cultivation technologies, grow faster, less sick and give more grain.

According to many experts, rice growing in the province is a very promising branch. The modernization of farms, the purchase of new modern equipment, the increase of the general training of workers - all this, according to forecasts, can lead to an increase in yield almost twice.

The rice industry in our country is, unfortunately, quite costly. According to estimates, the farms spend up to 60 thousand rubles per season for the cultivation of only one hectare of this crop. But the profits of such agrarian complexes can be quite large. The quality of Krasnodar rice is simply excellent. Therefore, both domestic consumers and foreign buyers buy it.

How to harvest

Thus, under the condition of observing the technology of cultivation, this crop is very fruitful - Krasnodar rice. How to grow it, we found out. Rice harvesting in the south of Russia is performed after drainage using special harvesters. This modern technology is responsible, among other things, for threshing grain.

Today the rice yield in the Kuban is about 1 million tons per year. By 2017, 99 farms were engaged in the cultivation of this crop. 23 of them are small businesses.

Equipment for processing of products

As is known, rice is not sold in corn, but in the form of cereals. The equipment intended for processing this crop, including harvesters, in Russia, unfortunately, is practically not produced. The same thing that exists, with loads during harvesting, usually does not cope. Therefore, for processing rice in the Krasnodar Territory, imported equipment is usually used. It is purchased more often in countries that are traditional rice producers - in China, Japan, South Korea, etc.

Selection

Of course, the rice industry in the Krasnodar Territory can develop not only if new technologies and modern equipment are used. Much in this respect depends on what sorts of this crop will be grown in the fields. In the province, among other things, the selection work is carried out with rice. Output at the stations as rice, Krasnodar round-grain, and long-grain.

To get a new variety of this culture of any kind, unfortunately, is quite difficult. It takes about 7 years to breed. However, the agrarians do not stop such difficulties. In the region, not only ordinary, but also elite cultivars are constantly displayed.

Comments of consumers about Krasnodar rice

Growing, and consequently, and arrives on the shelves of stores in the region, both round and long-grain rice. Reviews this domestic croup in consumers deserved just excellent. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, since Krasnodar rice is grown in compliance with crop rotation, the product is environmentally friendly and maximally beneficial for health. Secondly, the excellent quality of domestic cereals is determined by the climate of the Krasnodar Territory itself. In the Kuban it is not as hot as, for example, in Vietnam or China. Therefore, ears in this region are rarely infected with various pests that do not tolerate too low temperatures.

The high quality of Kuban rice is indicated at least by the fact that today there is a counterfeit Asian product on the market, sold under the guise of Krasnodar. Such rice is grown in the worst conditions and, of course, does not have the same excellent taste qualities as collected in the south of Russia.