MINISTRY: DEADLINES WILL BE RESPECTED IN PAYING FOR PURCHASED WHEAT

ZAGREB, Aug 9 (Hina) - The payment of purchased wheat has begun at the price that has been agreed on and it is believed deadlines will be respected, the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry said in a statement on Thursday. The statement was issued after the president of the ZUSSB, an alliance of farmers' associations from the Slavonia and Baranja regions in eastern Croatia, on Wednesday announced road and silo blockades unless the payment of this year's crop began on Aug. 15 at one kuna per kilo, plus purchase costs to be paid by the buyer. The Agriculture and Forestry Ministry said ZUSSB president Antun Laslo was incapable of negotiating with buyers and attacking Minister Bozidar Pankretic for media promotion. This year very favourable purchase conditions have been reached thanks to other farmers' associations which negotiated the wheat purchase, the ministry said. It has been agreed to pay one kuna per kilo and to purchase the entire quantity of this year's crop, regardless of quality. The ministry has also mediated with banks, ensuring some 600 million kuna for the purchase, with lien on purchased wheat. This year the market wheat purchase model was implemented in its entirety, without the government's participation with budgetary funds. ($1 = 8.4 kuna) (hina) ha