Over 400 Romanian Farmers To Picket Agriculture, Finance Ministries Tuesday

Over 400 farmers affiliated to union Agrostar will picket Tuesday the headquarters of the two ministries demanding to be paid agriculture subsidies for 2009, a 50% reduction in prices of diesel oil used in agriculture, as well as a 5% VAT for agriculture products.

They also urge the authorities to get an EC derogation to maintain in 2010 the state aids granted to uphold the agriculture sector.

Union leaders Niculae Stefan said another protest, which will gather 8,000 farmers, will be staged in Bucharest in May if authorities fail to meet their demands.