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April 16, 2003 - Wednesday |
Successful start of sowing
The spring sowing started successfully stated Serbian Minster for Agriculture Dragan Veselinov. Sugar beets have been sown on more than 95,000 hectares, which is 35% more than last year. Government subsidies
equaled 12,300 dinars (€192) per hectare. Because of the recent frost on some fields sugar beets must be sown again. This year's harvest should be able to produce at least 420,000 tons of sugar this year, which is 220,000 tons more than domestic requirements. Serbian sugar exports could reach $120 million this year.
Cooking oil refineries have contracted with farmers and agricultural companies for the sowing of sunflowers on 224,000 hectares, which is 31% more than planned and 52% more than last year. To date only 60,000 hectares have been sown. Exports of surplus cooking oil could reach 80,000 tons worth $40 million, Dragan Veselinov has estimated.
Soybean sowing has been contracted on 148,000 hectares which could give 300,000 tons of crushed soy, which would be almost enough for domestic needs.
The government subsidy for sunflowers and soybeans is 4,000 dinars (€62.5) per hectare.
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