ZAGREB, Sept 21 (Hina) - The president of the Association of Farmers of Slavonia and Baranja (ZUSSB), Antun Laslo, on Thursday threatened "even more radical protest rallies" if farmers are not paid debts for this year's wheat yield.
Laslo announced this at a meeting between Deputy Agriculture and Forestry Minister Tomislav Ledic and representatives of farmers' associations. The ZUSSB on Wednesday organised rallies on several locations in eastern Slavonia, protesting against the failure of companies which purchased their wheat to pay for it. The farmers believe that those who signed contracts on the purchase of wheat with 'Agrokor' and 'In-Cubo' companies were the most responsible for the delay in the payment. Ledic told the farmers it was possible that the debts for this year's wheat yield would be paid in the coming days. This is the last time the Ministry is solving problems
ZAGREB, Sept 21 (Hina) - The president of the Association of Farmers
of Slavonia and Baranja (ZUSSB), Antun Laslo, on Thursday
threatened "even more radical protest rallies" if farmers are not
paid debts for this year's wheat yield.
Laslo announced this at a meeting between Deputy Agriculture and
Forestry Minister Tomislav Ledic and representatives of farmers'
associations.
The ZUSSB on Wednesday organised rallies on several locations in
eastern Slavonia, protesting against the failure of companies
which purchased their wheat to pay for it.
The farmers believe that those who signed contracts on the purchase
of wheat with 'Agrokor' and 'In-Cubo' companies were the most
responsible for the delay in the payment.
Ledic told the farmers it was possible that the debts for this
year's wheat yield would be paid in the coming days. This is the last
time the Ministry is solving problems which are the responsibility
of those who buy and negotiate the sale of wheat, Ledic said. "The
state cannot be responsible and give guarantees for contracts
signed between producers and merchants," he added.
He reiterated that Agrokor, unlike In-Cubo, had settled all
obligations toward the farmers. The Ministry is taking steps for
'In-Cubo' to be given a loan and settle its obligations, Ledic said,
dismissing the possibility for the Ministry to give guarantees for
the company.
Also discussed at today's meeting was the final plan of autumn
sowing, reference yield, the purchase of soy and sunflower and the
use of the so-called 'blue diesel oil' (diesel oil sold to fishermen
and farmers at a cheaper price).
The farmers accepted the plan of sowing but added they were not
completely satisfied with sowing conditions and the allocation of
quotas.
Laslo said Croatian agricultural products cannot be competitive on
the international market if farmers do not have equal production
conditions as those in WTO member-countries.
(hina) rml