Summary of newspapers of the previous day – 12.11. 2009

Agrarian foreign trade deficit grew to 20,9 billion CZK till September

The CR agrarian foreign trade deficit deepened year-on-yearly over three quarters by more than quarter to 20,9 billion crowns. Import increased by 2,8 billion to 98,4 billion. Goods for 77,5 billion were exported, approximately by 1,7 billion less amount against the same period in 2008. It results from the Agricultural Union of the CR. It estimates that this year´s balance of trade with agri-food products will end with 29 billion minus, with by almost six billion worse result against last year. The Czech Republic exported cereals for 7,5 billion crowns over nine months which was by 1,7 billion more than year ago, vice versa, import of this commodity decreased from the last year´s almost two billion amount to 1,5 billion CZK.

Farmers will not demonstrate together with employees of transportation branch now but on day of hearing of budget, the 2nd of December

The Agrarian Chamber of the CR has nothing common with a demonstration of unionists from the Trade Union of Employees of Transportation, Road Economy and Motorcar Repair Service of Bohemian and Moravia who disagree with financial policy of municipal authorities and mainly a directorate of the Dopravní podnik hlavního města Prahy (Transportation enterprise of the city Prague). We prepare for a demonstration on the 2nd of December when we will march through Prague – a trace is being planned”, Jan Veleba, the president of Agrarian Chamber of the CR stated, As he told, much less financial means will flow to agriculture than it should according to accession agreements next year.

End of chemistry in foods, “Es” will and after new EU regulation

In the past, mainly consumers were afraid of “Es” owing to a possible health risk; now the situation turns and various food additives start to frighten the own producers. Too many Es on a packing of products discourage shoppers, so, producers try to rather replace all artificial dyes, preservatives and other improving substances with more expensive natural alternatives. For example green “Arabesky” will contain spinach instead of chemical colour, the orange ones than carrot. A new European regulation, which radically limits chemicals in foods, will come in force in half on next year. However, producers change recipes already now.

MZe: 7,8 billion crowns is missing in budget of department for next year

The Ministry of Agriculture (MZe) lacks 7,8 billion crowns in budget for next year to cover the department needs. Especially 6,3 billion crowns is missing for financing direct payments for farmers. An economic deputy minister of Agriculture Oldřich Černoch told it at a meeting of the parliamentary agricultural committee. The Committee broke the negotiation on the MZe budget today, it will return to the topic next week. It would like to approve the proposal to the Parliament where to find at least a part of missing money.