CONTRACT ON SALE OF STATE FARMLAND SIGNED IN BJELOVAR

( Editorial: --> 0961 ) BJELOVAR, June 13 (Hina) - Bjelovar County Prefect Marijan Coner and 42 buyers on Friday signed a contract on the sale of 1,056 hectares of state farmland worth about US $2.2 million. The contract was signed in the presence of Agriculture and Forestry Minister Zlatko Dominikovic. This is the largest area of state farmland sold since 1996. It is very important that the contract was signed in the county which is Croatia's leading producer of meat and milk, Dominikovic said. The contract will enable the enlargement of rural households, whose average area currently covers some three hectares per household, which, according to Dominikovic, is the biggest obstacle to the development of agriculture. Prefect Coner said his county would continue with the sale of state farmland adding that counties needed state help in solving problems concerning ownership documents and land register books. The payment period is from three to 20 years, depending on the purchased area, with a 20 per cent discount for cash payments. (hina) jn rml 131407 MET jun 98