National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia / Activities / Activity details
Monday, 15 June 2015
27th Sitting of the Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Committee
At the 27th sitting, held on 15 June 2015, the Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Committee discussed the Bill on Anti-Hail Protection, in principle.
Representative of the Ministry of Interior Djordje Kardum of the Risk Management Administration provided the rationale for the Bill, stressing that Serbia is finally getting a single anti-hail law after 23 years. He said that anti-hail protection means both active protection and suppression, adding that all the anti-hail systems are based on simulating the natural process in the cloud i.e. introducing artificial crystallisation nuclei to create smaller hailstones in the cloud itself.
The anti-hail protection system in Serbia consists of rocket technique, airplane technique and ground generators. Kardum said that, according to the previous law, part of anti-hail protection responsibilities rested on the local self-government units – anti-hail administration and shooters, while the new bill consolidates the duties and hands them to one authority – the National Hydrometeorological Service. According to the new Bill, the anti-hail protection funds will come from the budget of the Republic of Serbia, part of the crops insurance premiums and other sources in line with the law, said Djordje Kardum.
Jugoslav Nikolic, Director of the Hydrometeorological Service, said that the anti-hail protection duty the Hydrometeorological Service is taking over from the Ministry of Interior is not an adequate solution unless the necessary funds are secured. The cost estimates for the regular maintenance of the anti-hail protection system, without the introduction of new technologies, are about 8 million EUR a year. He believes it unacceptable that the local self-governments be excluded from the process because the employees of the Hydrometeorological Service cannot service all 4000 locations.
Committee Chairman Marijan Risticevic said that the new draft law on agricultural land will stipulate that 5% of the income garnered from the lease of agricultural land be allocated for anti-hail protection.
In the discussion, the Committee members shared their suggestions and proposals concerning the Bill on Anti-Hail Protection, saying that it should also include a section on the responsibility for damage caused by hail. They said that local self-governments should employ the provisions of the law to legally fund the dwindling numbers of free shooters, adding that only 7% of producers are paying for insurance, while the remaining 93% do not, putting the ones who do pay in an unjust position.
After the debate, the Committee decided, by majority of votes, to propose that the National Assembly accept the Bill on Anti-Hail Protection, in principle, and adopted Conclusion.
The sitting was chaired by Committee Chairman Marijan Risticevic.
The anti-hail protection system in Serbia consists of rocket technique, airplane technique and ground generators. Kardum said that, according to the previous law, part of anti-hail protection responsibilities rested on the local self-government units – anti-hail administration and shooters, while the new bill consolidates the duties and hands them to one authority – the National Hydrometeorological Service. According to the new Bill, the anti-hail protection funds will come from the budget of the Republic of Serbia, part of the crops insurance premiums and other sources in line with the law, said Djordje Kardum.
Jugoslav Nikolic, Director of the Hydrometeorological Service, said that the anti-hail protection duty the Hydrometeorological Service is taking over from the Ministry of Interior is not an adequate solution unless the necessary funds are secured. The cost estimates for the regular maintenance of the anti-hail protection system, without the introduction of new technologies, are about 8 million EUR a year. He believes it unacceptable that the local self-governments be excluded from the process because the employees of the Hydrometeorological Service cannot service all 4000 locations.
Committee Chairman Marijan Risticevic said that the new draft law on agricultural land will stipulate that 5% of the income garnered from the lease of agricultural land be allocated for anti-hail protection.
In the discussion, the Committee members shared their suggestions and proposals concerning the Bill on Anti-Hail Protection, saying that it should also include a section on the responsibility for damage caused by hail. They said that local self-governments should employ the provisions of the law to legally fund the dwindling numbers of free shooters, adding that only 7% of producers are paying for insurance, while the remaining 93% do not, putting the ones who do pay in an unjust position.
After the debate, the Committee decided, by majority of votes, to propose that the National Assembly accept the Bill on Anti-Hail Protection, in principle, and adopted Conclusion.
The sitting was chaired by Committee Chairman Marijan Risticevic.