Summary of newspapers of the previous day – 24. 2. 2009

Receipt of applications in frame of the sixth round was prolonged till 9.3.2009

A receipt of applications for projects measures of the Rural Development Program in frame of the 6th roun d will be prolonged till the 9th of March 2009. It is a further step of the Minister of Agriculture which should help farmers in the present unfavourable economic situation, first of all to give them more time to negotiate a bank credit and obtaining of valid building license. The prolonged deadline for receipt of applications concerns following measures:

Food producers have problems owing to crisis; they want help from state

An absolute majority of Czech food producers has recorded problems in consequence of the current financial crisis. It results from conclusions of investigation carried out by the Food Chamber among producers. Food producers faced above all difficulties in negotiations with banks and acquiring credits but also a big pressure from the side of business chains. The Chamber stated in a press release today that the state should help food producers in the complicated situation. According to the inquiry, producers now face a longer time of negotiation with banks about credits; an interest rate from provided credits has increased, and the own acquiring of credit is more difficult now.

World wheat production still decreases

According to the newest FAO estimations, the world wheat production should decrease this year. The first indication, that a level of last year´s record harvest (2,24 billion tons) will not be reached, were published on Friday the 14 th of February, according to a news service SDA. The reason was a decrease in wheat harvest in south Africa at this year´s beginning. A negative development of harvest is expected also in Asia owing to lack of rainfalls. Furthermore, FAO does not expect “anything good” in Latin America because above all in Argentina harvest of cereals decreased to half owing to climatic conditions already in 2008.

Town Náchod will sell brewery to firm LIF for 150 million crowns

The town Náchod will sell a join stock company Pivovar Náchod (Brewery Náchod) to a company LIF from Liberec for 150 million crowns. Náchod town councillors decided on it today. Pivovar Náchod is the thirteenth the biggest beer producer in the Czech Republic. The firm LIF already owns breweries Svijany and Rohozec. 16 councillors polled for, 11 were against. The towns started to negotiate about a sale of the brewery already last year in June, however, all negotiation ended without a result. In the end councillors put up a competition for sale of the brewery. An offer was put forward by an entrepreneur Pavel Bojanovský, the firm LIF and the Pivovar Holba. An evaluation commission set aside offers of Bojanovský and Holba for non-satisfaction of conditions.