Summary of newsmakers of the previous day – 5.12. 2007

Chinese authorities closed almost 9800 food firms which did not have in order proper permits. According to an agency New China also other more than 2800 processing plants in the country which did not fulfilled requirements for food quality have to end. The country reacts in such a way to occurrence of several cases of health objectionability of food and consumption goods. Prices of some foodstuffs, especially pig and poultry meat, have significantly increased last year in China. For example a price of poultry meat was by about 40 percent higher in October than a year ago, so the authorities have other reason to start a campaign against firms which tries to parasite on high growth of prices.

SZIF has paid over 4 billion CZK immediately the first day

The State Agricultural Intervention Fund (SZIF) exactly according to the Union rules yesterday on the 3rd December started to pay a pivotal agricultural endowment – Single Area Payment Scheme (SAPS). Immediately the first possible day of payments absolutely record number of more than 4 billion CZK were sent to accounts of 2 547 farmers. Decisions which forgo the own payments had been already sent to almost twenty thousand applicants to the 3rd December for almost 8,5billion CZK. In total 22 068 applications for about 3,5 mil. hectares have been received and as much as 9,78 billion CZK will be paid. This year’s payment per hectare is 2 791,50 CZK/ha.

Pig breeders will be advantaged in spending endowments

The Minister of Agriculture Petr Gandalovič has brought other idea how to contribute to a stabilization of pig breeding. A spokesman of the Ministry of Agriculture Petr Vorlíček informed on it today. According to him the principle is to introduce a new preferential criterion, respectively a spot advantage for applicants will enable more pig breeders to reach European money. On the 20th November work groups of the European Rural Development Fund negotiated with aim to suggest tools for improvement in the pig sector.

Government passed novel to prevent speculation with land

At today’s evening session the government passed an amendment of law which should prevent speculation in sale of state agricultural land. A government press department informed on it. According to the novel which will be negotiated by the Parliament, every person interested in land will have to make a deposit in height of five percent of a minimal price of sold pieces of land, however, at least 5000 crowns. If the interested person with the highest offer decides not to buy the land, the deposit will forfeit and will become an income of the Land Fund.