CRO PEASANTS' PARTY UNSATISFIED WITH GOVT REPORT ON AGRICULTURE

( Editorial: --> 7132 ) ZAGREB, Oct 9 (Hina) - The Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) has expressed dissatisfaction with the Croatian government's report and parliamentary discussion regarding the state of the agricultural sector, stating the situation continues to be disastrous. Party officials claimed on Friday that the current government was not capable of resolving the problems facing virtually 2.5 million Croatian citizens. This is the number of residents dependent on farming or retired farmers. Croatia has 500,000 family farms. The HSS estimates that some 1.2 to 1.5 million people live off these farms and that there are some 900,000 retired farmers. The party has demanded that the Government urgently conduct a proper analysis of the state of agriculture as well as formulate a strategy of development for villages, said HSS representative Pavo Sarcevic. He accused the Government and the Agriculture Ministry of privatising data regarding agricultural production. The HSS has asked that this information be made available to all citizens and not only the leaders of the ruling party. (Hina) sp/rml 091420 MET oct 98