Relevant Issues of Scientific and Personnel Support for the Development of Land Reclamation in the Non-Black Earth Region

Abstract

The reclamation complex of the Nonchernozem zone of Russia has been under the influence of a combination of unfavourable factors for a long time. The problems of scientific and staff support today limit the development of the complex and create risks for the successful implementation of the Federal Target Program "Development of Land Reclamation". In order to analyze the situation and find the right solutions, a study was carried out using the method of expert assessments. Twenty-four highly qualified specialists took part in it: 2 Academicians of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 4 Corresponding Members of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 10 Doctors of Sciences and 9 Candidates of Sciences. To preserve and build up the agro-resource potential within the framework of the Federal Target Program "Development of Land Reclamation" in the next decade, it is necessary to develop 300-400 thousand hectares of shrubby fallow, to carry out major repairs of drainage systems on an area of up to 300 thousand hectares and their reconstruction on an area of up to 100 thousand hectares, carry out chemical reclamation on an area of up to 5 million hectares on average per year. The need for qualified personnel to solve these problems will amount to 18–20 thousand professional workers and up to 5 thousand specialists, including 1.0 thousand people in research and development, 1.5 thousand people in exploration and design sphere, 2.5 thousand people in the construction and operational sphere. The fundamental importance belongs to the scientific support of the innovative reclamation complex, the renewal of which should be carried out on the principles of resource and energy conservation, nature likeness, informational support and digitalization of management processes.