Summary of newsmakers of the previous day – 3.9. 2007

Greece: Elements still rage, floods came after fires

Huge downpours caused devastating floods in northern Greece today. Except rains inhabitants of the peninsula Chalkidiki were surprised by hail-storm which damaged roofs and cars. An agency EFE informed on it with reference to local authorities. According to Chalkidiki prefect Asterios Zografos the incurred losses are cause not only by downpours but also lacking flood-protection. The government promised to build them last year after conflagrations which reduced to ashes this area laying about 600 kilometers northeast from Greek metropolis.

Operational program Environment offers 150 billion crowns

About 150 billion crowns wait for regions, towns and other applicants in the Operational program Environment. From the program it is possible to get subsidies for improvement of water management infrastructure, reduction of emissions, ecological energy resources, waste management, removal of old ecological loadings as well as environmental education. Reception of application was opened by the State Environment Fund (SFŽP) today. A director of SFŽP Petr Štěpánek said it to journalists in Zlín.

Hops harvest 2007

According to data of the Central Institute for Supervising and Testing in Agriculture (ÚKZUZ) a total acreage of hops in the CR in 2007 is 5389 ha which in comparison with a state in 2006, when the area was 5414 ha, means a decrease by 25 ha. A bearing variety remains Saaz with 89,7 % of acreage. In comparison with last year acreage of the variety Premiant increased and the total acreage of Saaz decreased above all in Žatec hop area.

Agrarian Chamber of CR: Prices of foods can increase by as much as 25 pct

The Agrarian Chamber of the Czech Republic estimates growth of food prices in consequence of high global demand for cereals by as much as quarter. Its president, Jan Veleba, reminded today that the chamber after starting growths of cereal prices on world markets estimated growth of food prices on a domestic market by ten percents. However now, according to Veleba, it is clear that growth of food prices will be higher. “I think that the total changes, the pressure upwards can not be lower that 20 percent and I think that I keep relatively low”, Veleba said today in Czech TV program “Questions of Václav Moravec”.