ZAGREB, May 29 (Hina) - Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bozidar Pankretic said on Wednesday that this year's price of wheat would be determined by producers and buyers, and that the state would not be directly involved in the
purchase but would help with the export of some 250,000 tonnes of surplus wheat.
ZAGREB, May 29 (Hina) - Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bozidar
Pankretic said on Wednesday that this year's price of wheat would be
determined by producers and buyers, and that the state would not be
directly involved in the purchase but would help with the export of
some 250,000 tonnes of surplus wheat. #L#
The ministry has proposed that the 2002 crop yields be purchased in
line with the market model, Pankretic said at a news conference.
The minister would not comment on the farmers associations' demand
that the purchase price of wheat be 1.10 kuna per kilogram, saying
that the price would be set by producers and buyers.
The guaranteed price of wheat is 70 lipa per kilo and the state is
obliged to buy all surplus wheat at this price, he said.
It is expected that this year's wheat yields will be around 850,000
tonnes and with last year's reserves this makes around a million
tonnes.
Since the country needs around 750,000 tonnes, market surplus
amounts to 250,000 tonnes and should be exported, the minister
said.
(hina) rml sb