Summary of newsmakers of the previous day – 18.12. 2007

Wages in agriculture will raise by 7,2 pct next year

Representatives of agrarian unions and both unions of agricultural entrepreneurs signed a collective engagement contract today for next near according to which wages in agriculture will increase in 2008 at average by 7,2 percents. Also premium payments for overtime hours and work at weekends will increase. However, seven-percent growth of wages will not be even; lowest will better themselves less, vice versa the employments in middle classes more. Farmers will get more money next year for overtime hours, work at nights and at weekends. While this year the height of premium payment is ten percent, next year it will be doubled.

Union will reduce use of pesticides

A rapid reduction of use of pesticides is solved by a new instruction of the European Commission which the Council of Ministers of Agriculture and Fishery negotiated in Brussels yesterday. An intention is not only to reduce use of plant protection preparations and determination of an optimal way of their application but also introduction of effective and unified checks in particular member states and their mutual recognition. One of the most fundamental changes is a ban of aerial spraying. All use of pesticides in member states will be subject to an approval proceeding of determined competent authorities. A text of the instruction is prepared for second reading in the European Parliament.

Study: CR should fasten end of EU export endowments for farmers

The Czech Republic within coming presidency in the European Union should strive to fasten stopping of EU export endowments for European farmers which is planned till the year 2013. So, the EU at the same time with removal of customs and non-customs obstructions would help farmers from poor countries who are not able to compete with dumping prices of European agricultural commodities. It results from a study of Prague Institute for Global Policy - Glopolis. “EU export endowments buckle legs to farmers in poor countries. Therefore the CR should strive to fasten this process” Petr Lebeda from Glopolis said to journalists today. According to him the export endowments should be removed preferably already before the year 2010.

Vine-growers need agreement, otherwise they manage illicit

Tens and maybe hundreds hectares of vineyards in the Czech Republic are managed without a proper approval of owners of appropriate land. However, it means in practice that neither vineyards nor produced wine belong to farmers. And agricultural enterprises which were not able to come to an agreement with the owners will have to return the endowments. The problem was repeatedly emphasized by the Union of Land Owners and Private Farmers.