In the fresh regions, great attention is paid to sustainable progress in agriculture. Farmers actively switch to seeds and inter-species hybrids developed by local breeders. It remains important to acquire high-quality seed types in seed centers and then breed them on their own farms to provide the region with quality seed material.
The first official status of a seed farm in these areas was awarded to the State Unitary Enterprise "Agricultural Donbass". The certificate was personally awarded to the company's management by the Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Donetsk People's Republic, Minister of Agriculture of the DPR Artem Kramarenko.
"At monthly zonal meetings with districts, we regularly raise the issue of registering seed farms. "Agricultural Donbass" was the first to step forward. Several other companies are also preparing the documentation. This significant work will continue. We have always attached great importance to varietal renewal. Agricultural producers of the DPR must have access to high-quality seeds," emphasized the Deputy Chairman of the DPR government.
The land area of "Agricultural Donbass" covers more than 100 thousand hectares of agricultural lands, where wheat, barley, corn, sunflower, and other crops are cultivated.
The seeds collected in the fields undergo procedures of cleaning, calibrating, sorting, storage, and processing at the advanced Volodarsky seed plant.
Modern equipment, including vibrating tables, seed processing, and packaging equipment, operates at this enterprise. The photo-selective machine, which operates automatically and at high speed, efficiently selects poor quality and underdeveloped seeds, choosing only the best samples. The quality of the seed material is preliminarily checked in the company's laboratory and then confirmed in interdistrict laboratories.
"We provide ourselves with wheat, barley, corn, and peas seeds. This year we are laying down a sunflower hybridization plot to meet the seed needs," said the head of the State Unitary Enterprise "Agricultural Donbass" Alexander Kuleshov. "We have combines, dryers, and all necessary means for sowing, harvesting, and storing seeds. We strive not only for self-sufficiency but also for the sale of quality seed material."
The company noted that the collection of both commercial and seed wheat and other grain crops has already begun. Despite the drought and recurrent spring frosts, a slight decrease in yield is expected, but the company still counts on a good harvest.
One of the key tasks of "Agricultural Donbass" is to adapt wheat varieties and other crops to local climatic conditions to achieve high yields.
At the moment, many farmers in Donbass sow wheat and other crops, mainly intensive varieties of Krasnodar and Rostov selection. These are usually high-yielding varieties that show high productivity with a sufficient amount of moisture. However, in the arid conditions typical for the DPR, these varieties are not always maximally effective. Russian scientists are working on solving this issue and are aiming to create varieties successful for Donbass, which is classified as a risky farming zone.
Another option is the introduction and multiplication of varieties of Odessa and Dnepropetrovsk selection, widely used by farmers in the region in the past. Unfortunately, not all of them are currently included in the state register of breeding achievements of Russia. Alexander Kuleshov noted that assistance in including these varieties in the register is one of the priority tasks of "Agricultural Donbass". In this case, farmers of the DPR and other new regions will be able to use them in plantings again.
Alexander Dovbnya, the head of the Donetsky branch of the Rosselkhozcenter, noted that the process of registering seed farms is actively continuing in the Kherson region. More than 15 applications have been submitted, and in the near future, the first four seed farms will be added to the register. Also, in the Zaporizhzhya region, a seed farm will be established soon. As for the Luhansk People's Republic, the process of submitting applications for registration is just beginning to develop.
"According to preliminary data, by 2025 in the DPR, there will be no less than seven seed farms. The leading agricultural enterprises of the region have already submitted or are planning to submit applications soon," emphasized Alexander Dovbnya. "Our outreach commission will conduct an inspection and evaluation of the capabilities of each company."
