AM: the government’s goal is to further develop irrigation farming

By: STA Date: 2022. 08. 04. 11:16

Irrigation is a public interest, the basis of a safe food supply – stated Minister of Agriculture István Nagy in a video published on his social media page, in which he draws attention to the importance of water management.

Plant cultivation without irrigation is impossible in Hungary due to future droughts. (Photo: Pixabay)

According to the Ministry of Agriculture’s statement sent to MTI on Thursday, the minister emphasized in the video that the government’s goal is to increase the drought tolerance of agriculture, which is why in recent years it has made significant efforts to develop irrigation farming: the irrigation communities. were created, and tens of billions worth of irrigation investments were realized, farmers have already received HUF 45 billion in support for the development of irrigation farming, and another HUF 70 billion are planned for this purpose.

The head of the ministry reminded that Hungary’s first irrigation management law entered into force on January 1, 2020, and its implementing decree entered into force on June 29, 2020.

In irrigation communities, the work of farmers is more efficient

István Nagy explained that there are currently 118 recognized irrigation communities operating in a total of 56,067 hectares of cultivated land. In addition to the already recognized irrigation communities, the Ministry of Agriculture is examining the applications of 19 communities, and another 49 communities have announced their intention to establish them. In the video, the minister also touched on the fact that almost 45 billion forints were awarded for farmers’ irrigation investments in the framework of the Rural Development Program. Between 2023 and 2027, even more resources than before, around HUF 70 billion, will go to the development of irrigation farming.

MTI