Summary of newsmakers of the previous day - 9.3.2006

Sugar order in the CR does not change

The Ministry of Agriculture respects the Wednesday decision of the Constitutional Court concerning a government regulation by means of which the quota is allotted in sugar production in the Czech Republic. At the same time it welcomes that according to the Court´s finding the system of quota allotment among particular sugar refineries is all right and in accordance with the Constitution, and that the CC did not grant a group of representatives' complain about a basic principle of governmental regulation which regulate the sugar production by means of the quotas.

Number of ecologic farmers increased

Ecological farming takes up about six percent of agricultural land in the Czech Republic. The government wants to increase this area to ten percent till 2010. The domestic demand for bio-foods grows, according to experts' estimation, by 20 % yearly. 829 ecological entrepreneurs tried to satisfy the market with demanded products last year which was by seven less than the year ago. It has been the first decrease in 15-year history of Czech ecological agriculture. Small financial advantages was registered by the Ministry of Agriculture to the 31st December 2005 in 79 ecological farmers in East Bohemia, from it 29 in region Pardubice. It is by five more than in the autumn 2004.

Government postponed transfer of agrarian debts from ČKA to PGRLF

The government postponed a proposal of the Ministry of Agriculture regarding a sale of debts of the Czech consolidation Agency (ČKA) in agricultural and food firms to Subsidiary Guarantee Rural and Forest Fund (PGRLF) to its next meeting. The spokeswoman of government Lucie Orginíková informed about is. The intention to transfer about 191 debts in the total height of 1,1 milliard crowns in agricultural and food firm to PGRLF was agreed by the Board of Trustees of ˇKA at the beginning of February. The sale should be realized till the end of this year's June.

Minister of Agriculture Jan Mládek agreed financial support for building and renewal of stores for cereals and oil plants

The Minister of agriculture agreed on the 6th March, 2006 a specification of the Rules for applicants from the Operational program Agriculture concerning the new investment intention f) Investment in reconstruction/building of store capacities for cereals and oil plants; investment in technologies of after-harvest treatment, evaluation and storage of cereals and oil plants in frame of the sub-measure 1.1.1. Investment in agricultural property and support for young farmers.

Source: Agris, 10.3.2006