ZAGREB, Oct 22 (Hina) - According to incomplete data, gathered from almost all of 21 Croatian counties, damage caused by natural disasters to crops this year came over 2.5 billion kuna (approximately 287 million US dollars). Means
which will be allocated from the state budget can compensate for just between two and eight percent of the damage. Commenting on this situation, Croatian Agriculture Minister Bozidar Pankretic has recently said this will not be sufficient. In the wake of this summer's hailstorms, wildfires and draught which hit almost all parts of the country, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has decided to propose to the Government several measures to alleviate the consequences of the natural disasters. The worst damage was caused by the draught. A month ago, the Ministry had data that the it cut the crop yields by even 70 percent in some areas. At that time the da
ZAGREB, Oct 22 (Hina) - According to incomplete data, gathered from
almost all of 21 Croatian counties, damage caused by natural
disasters to crops this year came over 2.5 billion kuna
(approximately 287 million US dollars).
Means which will be allocated from the state budget can compensate
for just between two and eight percent of the damage.
Commenting on this situation, Croatian Agriculture Minister
Bozidar Pankretic has recently said this will not be sufficient.
In the wake of this summer's hailstorms, wildfires and draught
which hit almost all parts of the country, the Ministry of
Agriculture and Forestry has decided to propose to the Government
several measures to alleviate the consequences of the natural
disasters.
The worst damage was caused by the draught. A month ago, the
Ministry had data that the it cut the crop yields by even 70 percent
in some areas. At that time the damage produced by this natural
disaster was estimated to some 2.17 billion kuna. More than a half
of all the Croatian counties were declared natural disaster areas
because of long draughts.
Minister Pankretic has asserted that one of the most important
measures for the compensation of damage caused by natural disasters
in agriculture will be to give incentives to farmers to insure farms
and cultivated fields via insurance companies. At the moment in
Croatia, mere 10 percent of the cultivated land is covered with
natural disasters insurance, and this must be changed, the minister
urged.
He expects that the national parliament will consider the financial
assistance to worst-hit counties, during its first coming
session.
In addition, a new and more efficient system of the protection
against hail should be introduced throughout the country and not
only in some areas, he added.
(hina) ms