Summary of newsmakers of the previous day – 28.8. 2007

AK will ask government to consider increase of VAT due to growth of cereal prices

The Agrarian Chamber of CR (AK) will ask government to consider whether it is reasonable to increase VAT tariff un foods from five to nine percents in a situation when prices of cereals growth. They project in prices of other products which will lead just to rise in food prices. It is cause by steep demand for cereals. Also development of biofuels in Europe and the USA pushes prices up which influences also buy-out prices in the Czech Republic. “Prices of cereals in comparison with last year are double in practice which neither producer of feeding mixtures nor any breeder can manage. It is also dealt with a fact how much margins of trade chains, which are sometimes as much as 60 percent of consumer price, can bear”, a secretary of chamber Jan Záhorka said today to ČTK.

Still new fires burst out in Greece

Fires in Greece do not decline. They spread. New and new fires appear. They burst out faster than fire brigades are able to get under control. Only from Sunday morning to yesterday's morning 89 other fires began to burn. And more than hundred had damaged the country before. From them 28 is especially dangerous. According to balance at least 63 people have died for the present; the number is not most likely final. Tens of people suffered injury and about 3000 people lost their lodging. Means from 12 above all European countries come gradually to help Greece. Seven persons were accused of setting on fire. At the same time a prosecution ordered investigation whether fires can not be considered as terrorism.

MZe will propose novel of water law in government

On Wednesday the 29th of July 2007 the Minister of Agriculture Petr Gandalovič will propose a novel of water law in the government. A directress of department of communication of the Ministry of Agriculture Ilona Chalupská informed on it today. According to her the novel adjusts procedures in building of flood-protection measures. Till this time it has been expounded over 12 billion CZK for flood-protection measures and removal of damages. There is other 14,2 billion CZK prepared for following 6 years. Their easier spending and better protection of inhabitants should be secured just by the presented novel of water law.

Harvests end; production of cereals is by 12 pct higher than last year

Harvest of cereals in the Czech Republic is almost at the end. Farmers has to only harvest less than one percent from 1,46 million hectares of fields sown with cereals. Production of 6,45 million tons is roughly by 12 percent higher than the whole last year's harvest. An average yields per hectare this year in cereals increased year-on-year by almost seven percent to 4,45 tons; however, from a long-term point of view it is average according to farmers. Nevertheless, buy-out prices are for cereal-growers favourable. They grow on European market due to high demand which according to farmers will probably projects in higher food prices.