PARLIAMENT ENDS DEBATE ON AGRICULTURE BILL

ZAGREB, July 10 (Hina) - Most parliamentary benches endorsed an agriculture bill on Tuesday, but due to the requests of many, primarily the opposition's Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), the bill will go into third reading. Most MPs maintain the bill does not deal sufficiently with ecology- friendly farm production, which is a global trend and for which Croatia meets all prerequisites. According to most, an agricultural development strategy should be passed before voting on the bill. Outlining the bill, Agriculture Minister Bozidar Pankretic said its objectives were food safety and the promotion of farm production efficiency in view of making it more competitive on both the domestic and foreign markets. The minister also mentioned the need to ensure an adequate standard of living for farmers, preserve natural resources, promote ecology-friendly production, and advance rural areas. These objectives would be achieved through measures of the market, structure, and land policy, as well as other incentives. MPs of the HDZ said the bill did not provide guarantees for the resolution of farmers' and manufacturers' problems. (hina) ha sb