CROATIA WILL HAVE ENOUGH WHEAT TO MEET DOMESTIC NEEDS - MINISTER

ZAGREB, July 14 (Hina) - Croatia will have about 820,000 tonnes of wheat this summer, which is enough to satisfy domestic needs. The harvest of the most important cereal has started and yields are beyond expectation, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Zlatko Dominikovic told a news conference in Zagreb on Monday. Noting that it was his ministry's desire that Croatia produced a million tonnes of wheat a year, Dominikovic said that plans were under way to increase areas sown with wheat by 60,000 hectares. The wheat harvest is well organised, the government has earmarked funds for the buyout, so that farmers will receive payments within 15 days from the day of sale, he said. Speaking of the harvest in the UN-administered Danube river region of eastern Croatia, Dominikovic said that the yield in the region was beyond expectation and that the buyout of barley had been completed. There was also a great interest in the sale of wheat, he added. Asked if there was a ban on the export of wheat and flour, the minister replied in the affirmative, explaining that the ban had been extended until the end of September to make realistic balances. Dominikovic said that the government had decided last week to introduce a customs duty on 48 products, including milk and milk products, fruit, vegetables and additives to cattle feed, in a bid to protect domestic producers and consumers. He emphasised that the government would withdraw its decision should there be a rise in the price of any of the products. (hina) vm mm 141517 MET jul 97