Summary of newspapers of the previous days – 3. 4. – 5.4. 2009

Municipalities don´t like paying VAT in projects subsidized by EU

Municipalities rebel against a decision of the Ministry of Agriculture which retroactively changed conditions for spending European subsidies. While in foregoing years of the Program of Rural Development small villages could include in expenditures for entered projects also the value added tax, according to new rules they will have to pay VAT from their budgets, even also in projects submitted last year in the autumn in the fifth round of this endowment program. ČTK is finding the Ministry´s opinion.

European Union regulations obstructs farmers to grow GMO

At present, the EU enables growing only of genetically modified corn. According to a president of the Agrarian Chamber of the CR Jan Veleba, a tough regulation decreases competitiveness of European farmers with the world and the European Union should allow growing of genetically modified crops. Veleba specified that on the total sown areas, only 0,1 percent belongs to genetically modified crops. However, also ecological organization, among them also the movement Greenpeace, come out against growing of GMO.

Subsidies for vine-growers newly

Last year a reform of common wine market cancelled all till that time valid European legal enactments according to which it was possible to pay a support for restructuring and transformation of vineyards. Almost after years, according to a new legislative, a reception of applications for this measure is opened. The support is determined for a change of variety composition of a vineyard, for increase in number of grape-vine bushes, a displacement of a vineyard in a slope, and a protection against damage of grape-vine bushes. Newly vine-growers can ask also for a support for investments in frame of CMO (Common Market Organization) for vine.

Externalization on wheat with higher content of pigments

An interest in yellow wheat flour not only for pastries production but also bread increases. Yellow varieties with good technological qualities and good yields are successfully bred. Consumers often require yellowish colour of flour products which can be achieved with use of flour with more significantly yellow colour. A high content of yellow pigments (carotenoids was contained in original wheat varieties (about 1000 µg carotenoids/100 g) from which the present ones were cultivated. Wheat Triticum aestivum contains usually only 200 µg carotenoidů/100 g which means a decrease in pigments against the original varieties to a fifth.