At its fifth sitting on 25 September the Agriculture Committee discussed the Information of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management about the autumn harvest of corn and industrial plants (sunflower, soy, sugar beet) and buyout prices.The sitting was chaired by Dr Zoran Masic. Minister Slobodan Milosavljevic and his aids also participated in the Committee’s activities.

Minister Milosavljevic elaborated the Information and the Ministry’s plans about the recovery from damages done by natural disasters, goods reserves and export of certain agricultural cultures.

The Committee will propose to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management that damaged households be exempt from the Land Tax and pension insurance payment, that their accrued interest on agricultural loans be postponed and water management duties decreased or eliminated due to damages in the field of agricultural production caused above all by drought, and in some parts of Serbia by hail. The Committee also suggested to the Ministry to realise the 1 billion dinars intended for the buyout of agricultural products for goods reserves as soon as possible.

The Committee appealed to the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Ministry of Finance to make an effort to secure means from the budget reserves in the amount of 2 billion dinars to subsidise the sowing of stubble cereals, and to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management to acquire information about the exporters of agricultural produce and announce a plan of activities on securing export that ensures the protection of domestic producers. The Ministry was also asked to pay off the subsidies for farmers by April 2008.

According to the agreement of the Deputies’ Groups the Committee, Vice-Chairman Mika Vlaovic (DPS) tendered his resignation and Radoslav Milovanovic (DP) was elected Vice-Chairman.

The members of the Committee went on to acquaint themselves with the received citizens’ appeals.