A promising cross-border agricultural venture is taking root in the Klimovichi District of Belarus. Since April, a local farming enterprise led by Dmitry Sirotkin has partnered with the Chinese agribusiness company Dongfanghong to launch joint production of melons and watermelons.
The pilot fields are located near the village of Avtukhovka. The collaboration combines local resources with Chinese agricultural expertise. "Dongfanghong specializes in melon and watermelon cultivation. We're using their seeds and growing technology, while relying on Belarusian machinery and fertilizers," says Sirotkin.
Given watermelons' need for warmth and moisture, the crops are planted under film mulch, and drip irrigation systems have been installed to maintain optimal soil hydration. Six technical specialists from Dongfanghong are permanently stationed at the site, including an agronomist overseeing daily crop care. Communication with Chinese staff is handled via mobile translation apps, and a translator visits periodically from Minsk for more complex coordination.
The project already covers six hectares of farmland, and plans are underway to extend cultivation to an additional nine hectares. A small test plot has also been sown with melon varieties to evaluate local viability.
Source: www.rodniva.by