SOWING IN OSIJEK-BARANJA COUNTY END OF SEPT. OR EARLY OCTOBER

OSIJEK, Sept 24 (Hina) - Autumn harvests in Osijek-Baranja County should commence by the end of September or early October and 83 per cent of the intended 68,000 hectares should be sown, said Agricultural Minister Ivan Djurkic on Friday in the Chambers of Osijek County. Djurkic estimated that the autumn sowing plan was adopted in a timely manner, back in July and quotas were estimated in keeping with averages taken over several years and the market demand of particular sorts. He believes that all conditions are in place for timely sowing adding that the Agricultural Ministry has already earmarked over DM30.25 million. Commenting on demands by producers to increase subsidies particularly because of Croatia's accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Djurkic said that it would not be realistic to expect huge increases next year but that these could be possible towards the final process of adapting to the WTO. Djurkic said that the Ministry had compiled a packet of measures which would enable "Croatia to establish itself upon accession to the WTO", and so it doesn't lose it edge on competitiveness. Speaking on payments for excess wheat stocks, he said that the State Administration for Commodity Stockpiles had been advised that funds had been earmarked and that these should be paid out today or Monday. (hina) sp