Fruit growers can count on the government even during challenges

(Photo: AM/István Fekete)

Describing the spring frost damage affecting agricultural producers, István Nagy said that by May 19, 2025, approximately 3,700 damage reports had been received on the electronic damage reporting platform for more than 25 thousand hectares.

Almost 90 percent of the reports were related to the nationwide and severe frost wave (reaching -7, -8 degrees Celsius in some places) experienced between April 6-11, except for 8 districts

In addition, two further spring frost damage events can be mentioned: one between March 18-20 and the other on May 10. Despite the fact that the March frost wave proved to be nationwide according to the meteorological service, the size of the reported damage area associated with this damage event (approx. 700 hectares) is relatively low. As a result of the local frost damage in May (reduced to Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg and Heves counties), damage was reported on approximately 1,400 hectares. Two-thirds of the reported damage area, 17 thousand hectares, is planted with crops, the largest share of which is apples (6,200 ha), sour cherries (3,100 ha), apricots (2,300 ha) and plums (1,500 ha). By far the most affected county is Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg (8,600 ha), practically every third reported damage area is located there. Damage exceeding two thousand hectares was reported from Hajdú-Bihar, Békés and Bács-Kiskun counties.

The agricultural damage mitigation system creates an opportunity to partially mitigate the damage caused by the spring frost

At the same time, farmers are reminded that the existence of agricultural insurance or membership in the crisis insurance system plays an important role in determining the amount of damage mitigation benefits, since in this case the producer is entitled to maximum damage mitigation. When determining the amount of the damage mitigation benefit, agricultural insurance that was concluded before the first damage event occurred can be accepted. Damage notification must be made within fifteen days of the agricultural damage event. Since the deadline for notification falls within the period of submission of the Single Application, the notification deadline is extended to 31 May 2025 at the latest. The Minister of Agriculture considers joint thinking important in order to secure the future of Hungarian horticulture, including fruit growers. Therefore, the meeting discussed, among other things, a new restructuring plantation application and the opportunities inherent in new financial structures, support for the development of frost protection devices, as well as irrigation and variety adaptation experiments.

AM