PARLIAMENT ON PROPOSAL TO REDUCE INCENTIVES FOR SOME CROPS

ZAGREB, Jan 17 (Hina) - A representative of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) parliamentary bench, Drago Krpina, said on Thursday the government's bill on changes to the Law on Farming Incentives, which reduces incentives for most crops, is not a reform measure but a simple lowering of incentives. Addressing MPs in a parliamentary debate, Krpina objected to the lack of transparency of the criteria the government was governed by in proposing lower incentives for bread grain, sunflower, sugar beet, freshwater fishery and mussels, and higher ones for soy. Agriculture Minister Bozidar Pankretic said the proposed changes were an integral part of the agricultural reform which started last year, and a provisional solution until the adoption of a completely new system of incentives, which should go into force in the second half of the year and classify producers in two categories - those producing for the market, and non-commercial ones, who will produce mostly for their own needs. Many deputies said the current system had not yielded the desired results and supported the government's efforts to define a new system of farming incentives. (hina) sb rml