The engine of rural Hungary lies in strong family businesses

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According to István Nagy, the Hajdú-Bihar family business has won around one billion forints in tender funds for its almost two billion forints development. The investment of Balmaz-Sütöde Kft. fits perfectly with the objectives of the Hungarian government, which has been represented since 2010, namely to support farmers and businesses that fundamentally contribute to Hungary’s food security with all means – emphasized the Minister. The investment in Balmazújváros is a brave and clear message for the future: Hungarian bakery products and their producers are able to renew themselves in an efficient and sustainable manner in response to changing consumer demands, and to ensure that families living in the area do not eat imported goods from distant countries, but locally made, high-quality bread and bakery products made from domestic raw materials, he added.

István Nagy called it an important goal for Hungary’s food self-sufficiency to be stable in the long term and less dependent on imports or world market energy prices

This is also why the domestic co-financing rate related to EU funds for agricultural and rural development subsidies was increased to the maximum level of 80 percent, he indicated. The minister announced in Balmazújváros that the government is working on changing the regulations of the food book and will introduce the category of food free of additives, which, in addition to GMO-free, represents a safety net that can protect the interests of the food industry and consumers. He also mentioned that the Hungarian government gave the best possible response to the various free trade agreements of the European Union: they do not contrast raw materials with raw materials – for example, Hungarian wheat grains with Ukrainian wheat grains, because they would lose the quantitative competition – but rather with raw materials – wheat grains – processed, marketable products.

István Nagy also spoke about the fact that, within the framework of the CAP strategic plan, 66 new agricultural and rural development calls for proposals had been published by the end of March, totaling 1,717 billion forints

On the investment calls for the ongoing support cycle, support decisions worth more than 1,160 billion forints had already been made, based on almost 6,300 submitted applications – he said. István Nagy said that smaller plants are also important to them. So far, 627 smaller processors have received around 40 billion forints in support, and seeing the success, they reopened a tender opportunity last September. In the latest round, 866 new applications were received, with a requirement of 48 billion forints, and processing has already begun, he explained. The head of the ministry reassured the sector’s players that development will not stop, that there are funds for developments.

Zsolt Fülep, owner-managing director of Balmaz-Sütöde Kft., vice president of the Hungarian Bakers’ Association, called the investment a milestone

As a result, among other things, modern dough dividing machines, automatic proofing chambers were purchased, and one of the world’s most modern freezing systems was put into operation. The company, which employs 190 people, offers its products in 32 stores in 11 cities in Eastern Hungary. Last year, their sales revenue was 3.6 billion forints, and they plan to reach four billion forints this year, the company manager told MTI.

AM/MTI