Summary of newsmakers of the previous day – 14.9. 2007

Gandalovič: Fruit-growers have to create firm sale relations

Fruit-producers in the Czech Republic should aim this year to creation of stable sales areas even if it means several-haller decrease of prices per kilogram of buy-out fruit. At a ceremonial opening of the 31st year of garden fair Zahrada Čech in Litoměřice it was said by the Minister of Agriculture Petr Gandalovič. According to the minister fruit-growers lived through their biggest crisis already before the CR admission in the EU; vegetable-growers immediately after that. According to Gandalovič today the situation seems to be much more favourable with good perspective in the future.

It is time for revision of contractual relations

Present high prices of almost all commodities of plant production can trepan at first sight into uncritical bet on agricultural plant production and possibly to a partial resignation of agricultural activities, so projects in frame of the Rural Development Program. However, to all appearance it would be mistake. The present high prices have reason in many factors which are notorious (bio-fuels, growth of world demand for food, decrease of world reserves, lower harvest in some world territories). Though all named factors together should not cause commonly so dramatic and time-illogical (in harvest) increase in price.

Modified corn prospers in the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is according to available data with the acreage 5000 hectares the third biggest grower of genetically modified corn in the European Union. The first place keeps Spain with 70 thousand hectares, than France follows with 20 thousand of hectares. Marie Čeřovská from the Ministry of Agriculture reported it. Domestic farmers could sow genetically modified plant, Bt corn resistant to pest moth for the first time in 2005. At that time more than 50 farmers tried it at acreage of 270 hectares. This year, 131 growers sowed the plant. The GM variety represented approximately two percents of this year acreage of corn grown for green, silage and for grain. However, ecological organizations declaim against growing of the plant.

The 31st year of Zahrada Čech started today at fairground in Litoměřice

In Litoměřice the 31st year of the biggest gardening exhibition in Bohemia - Zahrada Čech started today. The fairground presents 310 sellers and exhibitors. In the premises people can buy trees, flowers, fruit, garden tools, or they can ask for an expert advice how to build an ornamental garden. According to estimations of a manager of the fairground in Litoměřice, Romana Šlechtová, about 9000 visitors will come at the fairground today, total expected number is over 100 000 people. “Even if the fairground is full, no transport problems are reported”, Šlechtová said to ČTK. After a longer time also Czech and Moravian Vegetable Union will present with its grower results.