The Ministry of Agriculture supports farmers’ awareness with as many tools as possible in 2026

(Illustration: Pixabay)

The Minister said that the Ministry of Agriculture shows its commitment by continuously developing the domestic agricultural support environment in order to maintain the liquidity of producers, in addition to raising farmers’ awareness. In addition to direct subsidies and appropriately targeted investment calls, it draws attention to the importance of adaptation in agriculture on the one hand, and operates a consistently planned risk management system on the other. The agricultural risk management system (MKR), which has been in operation since 2012 and has been continuously developed and monitored, effectively contributes to the subsequent mitigation of agricultural damage caused by increasingly extreme weather conditions.

Last year’s farming year once again presented farmers with serious challenges

The livestock sector was hit by the foot-and-mouth disease virus in early spring, fruit and grape growers faced repeated, severe spring frost damage, while arable crop growers suffered significant drought damage in many regions of the country. The unpredictable weather and the emergence of epidemic animal and plant diseases have once again drawn attention to the importance of farmer awareness and agricultural risk management. The most innovative measure of agricultural risk management tools is the agricultural crisis insurance system, which has been in operation since 2021. The measure, which is currently unique at the EU level, serves to effectively manage all risk factors beyond weather risks – be it the outbreak of animal or plant diseases, increased production costs, a decrease in market prices or even market loss – that cause a decrease in farmers’ income – István Nagy highlighted.

Farmers have the opportunity to join the system between February 1 and February 28 of each year, by submitting the application for membership electronically to the Hungarian State Treasury

Farmers can obtain membership for a period of 3 years. After joining, farmers must pay a very fair financial contribution to the Crisis Insurance Fund every year, which is supplemented by EU funds. This system fairly compensates farmers for their income loss, and it is worth joining in 2026 as well. Farmer awareness is important, as the market and climatic conditions of the production environment are still unpredictable. Especially now, when the European Commission is trying to eliminate the well-functioning agricultural support system, abolishing the two-pillar Common Agricultural Policy. Decision-makers in Brussels are planning along grand political goals, disregarding the interests of farmers and consumer safety. Hungary will stand up for Hungarian farmers and families in 2026 as well – the Minister emphasized.

AM