Summary of newspapers of the previous days – 27. – 28. 9. 2011

Lednice ponds have new tenants; selection was criticized

A system of four Lednice ponds in Břeclav region has a new tenant after 20 years. The Agency for Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection of the Czech Republic (ANCLP CR) chose Rybářství Hodonín (fishery) in selective proceedings. It informed on it in a press release on its web. The tender winner will change for a firm APH and Rybníkářství Pohořelice at this year´s end which have rented the four ponds system till now. Just these present tenants, who also entered the tender, criticize the proceedings for an alleged irregularity.

Chamber of Deputies approved simplification of rules of ecological agriculture

The Chamber of Deputies approved a government amendment of law on ecological agriculture in a final reading today. The amendment simplifies regulations and issuing of exceptions ¨to rules. It also is intended to improve the quality of a check system. The model implements changes in European legislative in Czech law which have happened since 2009, however, it does not contain changes of economy rules. The amendment will be negotiated in the Senate now. The novel should also to simplify a registration of new ecological farmers including cancellation of thousand-crown administrative payment for submission of an application for registration.

The Chamber of Deputies approved transfer of 1.1 mld. CZK for MoA for national subsidies

The Chamber of Deputies approved an increase of this year´s budget of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) by 1.1 milliard crowns by a transfer of means from the Land Fund today. Also representatives of opposition were in for the government amendment which the Senat will get to negotiate now. The original model counted on that only 540 million crowns would be used for national endowment resources; the remaining 560 million crowns should be directed at the Rural Development Programme. However, the parliamentary agricultural committee suggested to give the entire sum for subsidies because obviously there will be enough money directly in the state budget for co-financing of the Rural Development Programme next year.

Ecological agriculture is in rise in Czech Republic

Ecological agriculture gained also significance in the Czech Republic. 4 022 farms manage in ecological way on the area of 483 200 ha. 80 % of subsidies in ecological agriculture in the CR come from the EU funds. As the Ministry of Agriculture communicated on the occasion of the just taking place “Month of bio-foods and ecological agriculture”, 4 022 farms in total managed in ecological way at the end of August which was by 505 more than in January. The area of land managed according to rules of ecological agriculture has reached almost 200 ha and has increased by 7.8 % since the year beginning.