*ZAGREB, May 15 (Hina) - The Croatian government on Thursday formulated short-term measures to help farmers hit by recent droughts, however, concrete figures were not mentioned.
*ZAGREB, May 15 (Hina) - The Croatian government on Thursday
formulated short-term measures to help farmers hit by recent
droughts, however, concrete figures were not mentioned. #L#
The government entrusted the ministries of agriculture and finance
to devise a model of partial compensation for damage caused by the
drought, including the amount and source of the funds.
Agriculture Minister Bozidar Pankretic recalled that droughts hit
a number of counties, especially those in Slavonia, however, their
actual consequences would be known only after competent
commissions established the situation in the field.
The scope of the drought is disastrous, damage is extensive, which
makes the request not to exaggerate and speculate about the damage
reasonable, said Prime Minister Ivica Racan.
The government will exempt recipients of farming incentives from
the obligation to prove minimum yields for bread wheat, brewer's
barley, oil crops, soy and sugar beet.
It will also exempt the users of state-owned land from paying land
usage fees in the part that is paid to the state (25%) and calls on
counties and municipalities to do the same.
The users of loans from ministry funds were granted a year-long
grace without the calculation of regular interest, and business
banks were urged to do the same. The company Croatian Waters was
entrusted with writing off water bills for 2003.
The Agriculture Ministry is to encourage the procurement of
watering equipment and equipment for protection against frost and
hale through its loan programmes and capital investment models.
The government should discuss tax benefits for farmers next week.
Damage from the drought also opened a discussion on other problems
in the farming sector.
Racan warned about neglected watering canals, the insufficient
number of insured farmers, lack of progress in land amelioration in
the past 15 years, and the slow change of farming structures, which
he said was the reason why the country lacked its own fruit and
vegetables.
(hina) rml