ZAGREB, Mar 2 (Hina) - The Croatian government on Thursday okayed the sale of 200,000 tonnes of wheat market surplus, aware it will lose 140 million kuna (US$18 million) in the process. The wheat, which will be sold on foreign
markets, comes from buffer stocks and was harvested in 1998 and 1999. There is a total of 555,000 tonnes of wheat in buffer stocks. In view of requirements, the market surplus is 200,000 tonnes. Economy Minister Goranko Fizulic says the former government is to blame for the loss, since it was supposed to sell the wheat last autumn. The government is losing in selling the wheat because it was purchased at a protected price which was far higher than on the market. The Agriculture Ministry did not allow the wheat to be sold last autumn, assuring the government there was no market surplus and that requirements would barely be met, said Fizulic. Agriculture and Forestry Minister
ZAGREB, Mar 2 (Hina) - The Croatian government on Thursday okayed
the sale of 200,000 tonnes of wheat market surplus, aware it will
lose 140 million kuna (US$18 million) in the process.
The wheat, which will be sold on foreign markets, comes from buffer
stocks and was harvested in 1998 and 1999. There is a total of
555,000 tonnes of wheat in buffer stocks. In view of requirements,
the market surplus is 200,000 tonnes.
Economy Minister Goranko Fizulic says the former government is to
blame for the loss, since it was supposed to sell the wheat last
autumn. The government is losing in selling the wheat because it was
purchased at a protected price which was far higher than on the
market.
The Agriculture Ministry did not allow the wheat to be sold last
autumn, assuring the government there was no market surplus and
that requirements would barely be met, said Fizulic.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bozidar Pankretic promised he
would see why export was not allowed, pointing out his ministry was
not in possession of official documents related to the matter. He
said however that "nowhere in Europe or the world is money made on
wheat."
The controversy between the two ministers shows the wheat issue is
far from being an easy one. While the economy minister is pointing
out 40 percent more land was sowed last year despite the surplus,
the agriculture minister sees some positive aspects.
Croatia has plenty of uncultivated land, some was sowed and farmers
made some money in the process, Pankretic said.
The government's attention has also been drawn to the fact that
Croatia still does not know its real wheat requirements.
(hina) ha jn