37 young agricultural professionals awarded in the Hungarian Bread program

(Photo: Pixabay)

The certificates were presented by István Jakab, Vice President of the Parliament, President of the Association of Hungarian Farmers’ Associations and Farmers’ Cooperatives (MAGOSZ); Zsolt György Papp, President of the National Chamber of Agriculture (NAK) and András Herczegh, Executive Director of AVHGA, in Budapest on Tuesday, at the Parliament Building. István Jakab recalled that in the first year of the scholarship program, which was first announced in 2023, twelve young agricultural professionals received support, in 2024 twenty-five, and this year already thirty-seven. It is very important to belong somewhere and to feel that “this community accepts me, supports me, counts on me, counts on my work” – István Jakab drew attention, and according to him, an important goal of the scholarship program is also to support our compatriots from Transcarpathia, who are currently in a difficult situation. “Without 21st century knowledge, we can no longer become successful. (..) We are working to become a successful, strong motherland and a successful, strong nation” – said the president of MAGOSZ.

More than a program

“The Bread of Hungarians program symbolizes the solidarity of the Hungarian people, the helpfulness of the farming community, our togetherness, both here and beyond the border” – emphasized Zsolt György Papp, the president of the NAK, adding that today the phenomena experienced decades ago are no longer visible in agriculture, revolutionary innovations, technological solutions and the expansion of professional knowledge can be perceived. This represents a more significant change than the changes during the industrial revolution – explained the president. “Agriculture dictates the pace that requires you, your determination and your knowledge” – Zsolt György Papp told the awardees, who called the scholarship program’s main goal to keep young agricultural professionals on the track in the future.

Past and future

András Herczegh, the executive director of AVHGA, said: this program symbolizes tradition, cooperation between communities, but also the future: innovation and development capacity. Thanks to the Agricultural Business Loan Guarantee Foundation, approximately 650 billion forints of loans have been placed in Hungarian agriculture, which have reached farmers with the help of the foundation. Approximately twenty thousand farmers receive loans with their help every year – András Herczegh emphasized. As was said at the event, last year’s awardees used their scholarships, among other things, for study purposes, as well as for the purchase of laptops and machinery necessary for their farming.

MTI