AM: we must protect EU funds for farmers

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The minister added that the results achieved in agriculture prove the need for the current two-pillar support system and the independent EU agricultural budget, which will also last. “Brussels’ budget plan belongs in the trash,” the minister said, according to the statement. The minister reminded that farmers are currently being helped with numerous subsidies, which could easily be jeopardized under Brussels’ budget plan; farmers’ funds would be given to Ukraine.

Regarding the domestic agricultural financing system, the Minister mentioned as an example that the basic support per hectare is more than 55 thousand forints

Thanks to the redistributive support, those affected will receive additional support of 33,500 forints per hectare after their first 10 hectares; and 18,100 forints per hectare between 11 and 150 hectares. He highlighted that generational change is a priority government task and objective, so young farmers are entitled to additional support of 37,300 forints per hectare in addition to the aforementioned, up to a maximum of 300 hectares. István Nagy said that the support available per hectare is 91,100 for vegetable crops tied to production; almost 154 thousand for industrial vegetables; 189 thousand for extensive fruit production; and 386 thousand for intensive fruit production. These support titles not only provide a significant financial base, but also provide an incentive for the growers of these crops.

The Minister underlined that in addition to basic subsidies, the government also pays special attention to the planting of new plantations

In the Rural Development Program, such programs were implemented to a value of almost 25 billion forints. 41 billion forints were provided for the purchase of gardening machinery – added István Nagy. “One of the biggest problems of our time to be solved is the reduction and slowing down of the harmful effects of climate change. That is why we have provided approximately 410 billion forints for the support of the Agri-Environmental Management Program (AKG) or the Organic Farming (ÖKO)” – highlighted the Minister of Agriculture.

This year’s plantation applications attracted great interest, with 637 applications submitted, worth almost 56 billion forints

An important result is that in the next five years, horticultural enterprises participating in all target programs will be able to receive support, as approximately 2 million hectares of agricultural land have already been included in the AKG and ÖKO programs. All this shows that special attention is being paid to supporting the horticultural sector, and this will continue in the future. However, in order to continue to provide support for producers, it is necessary to support a complete rethinking of the recently published EU budget after 2028. In its current form, it would ruin farmers, which they will not let happen – István Nagy emphasized.

MTI