Czech farmers march in protest
Last week, around 3,000 farmers marched through the streets of Prague demanding more money from the state and higher subsidies from the European Union.
Protesters delivered a petition to politicians asking for aid, signed by some 117,000 people. Farmers are seeking compensation of Kc1,200 ($39) per hectare – around Kc5 billion ($163 million) in total to offset the dramatic fall of prices for all commodities, and are demanding speedier payment from the state support programmes this year. They also continue to demand the same agricultural subsidies given to farmers in the EU as soon as the Czech Republic joins.
Agriculture Minister Jaroslav Palas said he did not think it possible to raise the Kc5 billion for compensation, suggesting Kc600 million as a more realistic figure.
According to Agricultural Association chairman Miroslav Jirovsky the Czech agriculture sector will fall into the red this year after two years of profit, a result of lower prices for products, the catastrophic damage sustained to some crops during last August's flooding and problems with exports caused by the strong crown.
Last year, the sector posted a profit of Kc3.26 billion and in 2000 a profit of Kc3.7 billion, according to Ministry of Agriculture data. Jirovsky said grain prices fell between January and September by Kc800 to Kc2,950 per tonne, the price of pigs dropped from Kc42 to Kc34 per kilo of live weight, and prices of poultry decreased from Kc25 to Kc20.5 per kilo of live weight.
Farm leaders say urgent state assistance is required. "If the solution does not respond to farmers' needs, they are determined to demonstrate and to force a solution," said Agrarian Chamber head Vaclav Hlavacek.
