AM: the interests of Hungarian farmers come first, we will continue to maintain the import ban on Ukrainian agricultural products

(Photo: AI)

According to the statement, Ukraine will not export either corn or wheat to Hungary until our country requests it – said István Nagy, Minister of Agriculture, who received Tarasz Kacska, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, in his office. Hungary will continue to maintain the import ban on Ukrainian agricultural products in order to protect the interests and markets of Hungarian farmers. However, transit through the country will continue to be permitted under strict control – he added. At the meeting, the Minister of Agriculture spoke about how climate change and drought pose a serious challenge not only to Hungary but also to our northeastern neighbor, but according to preliminary estimates, a better harvest can be expected in both Hungary and Ukraine. The average domestic yield of winter wheat exceeds 5.5 tons and producers have harvested 5.4 million tons. Due to the war, energy sources and input materials are more expensive, and crop prices are low, which is why farmers have to deal with serious challenges. István Nagy also drew attention to the fact that according to the Brussels-Kiev pact, agricultural exports of Ukrainian products could increase four to five times the pre-war level, which would ruin Hungarian farmers and European agriculture. Ukrainian producers do not have to meet the very strict EU veterinary and phytosanitary requirements either. This puts EU producers at a significant competitive disadvantage, they lose their markets and their livelihood, which cannot be allowed – he stressed. The EU-Mercosur trade agreement was discussed at the meeting, which in its current form would have a number of negative effects on the agriculture of the European Union, including Hungary. Hungary does not support the conclusion of the agreement in its current form, as it does not provide adequate protection for EU and Hungarian producers. István Nagy stressed that the interests of Hungarian farmers always come first for the government, therefore they will protect their livelihood by all possible means – the Ministry of Agriculture informed.

MTI