ZAGREB, Sept 2 (Hina) - Although it is obvious that this summer's unfavourable weather conditions, primarily droughts, will reduce crop yield, the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry believes the supplies of corn, oil, sugar and potato
will be sufficient for domestic consumption. However, it is still difficult to state how much reduced the yield will be, Assistant Minister Tomislav Ledic said. Damage caused by bad weather to crops has been estimated at more than two billion kuna. This year's corn yield will be 25-30 percent lower. Ledic reminds that corn has been sown on an area of 355,000 hectares of which 280,000 hectares are in the system of state incentives. Even if the yield is as low as four tonnes per hectare Croatia will still have about 1,400,000 tonnes of corn, which will be sufficient for domestic consumption, Ledic said. Despite damage caused to oil crops, primarily soy
ZAGREB, Sept 2 (Hina) - Although it is obvious that this summer's
unfavourable weather conditions, primarily droughts, will reduce
crop yield, the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry believes the
supplies of corn, oil, sugar and potato will be sufficient for
domestic consumption. However, it is still difficult to state how
much reduced the yield will be, Assistant Minister Tomislav Ledic
said.
Damage caused by bad weather to crops has been estimated at more
than two billion kuna.
This year's corn yield will be 25-30 percent lower. Ledic reminds
that corn has been sown on an area of 355,000 hectares of which
280,000 hectares are in the system of state incentives. Even if the
yield is as low as four tonnes per hectare Croatia will still have
about 1,400,000 tonnes of corn, which will be sufficient for
domestic consumption, Ledic said.
Despite damage caused to oil crops, primarily soy, Ledic is
confident that the yield will be enough for domestic consumption.
There are indications that the overall production of sunflower will
be sufficient as well. In any case, with the realised production of
oil rape and the expected production of sunflower and oil reserves,
Croatia will have enough oil despite damage to soy crops, Ledic
said.
Also affected by this year's bad weather has been sugar beet.
The production of sugar beet will be lower and there will be less
sugar, however, with the existing reserves there will be enough
sugar in this financial year, Ledic said.
Accurate data on the potato yield are still not available because
the biggest potato growers are private producers.
Ledic believes that despite the damage the plan of autumn sowing
should not face any changes and that it will be carried out as
planned.
(hina) rml