AM: next round of applications for irrigation development tenders to start in autumn

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At the beginning of September, applications can be submitted again for support for smaller-scale irrigation developments within agricultural holdings, while at the end of the month, farmers planning complex investments can submit applications. Thanks to the calls, the Ministry of Agriculture is encouraging sustainable water management with 67 billion forints – Minister of Agriculture István Nagy drew attention to the announcement. It was written: according to the head of the ministry, the rapidly changing climate environment poses significant challenges for agricultural producers. Although water retention and soil condition improvement are already supported by the application of many good agrotechnologies, in order to increase crop and food security, continuous irrigation development is needed in addition to supporting their spread. Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture is also supporting irrigation development within the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy – in addition to encouraging the application of water-retaining farming practices. He explained that applications for irrigation development investments can be submitted continuously from the spring of 2025, and in the next phase from the autumn. The funds represent an opportunity to optimize the water use of irrigation systems, modernize, expand and reconstruct water-saving irrigation infrastructure and related structures, and create new irrigation water supply works and systems.

The introduction of these water-saving irrigation technologies is supported by two applications

The third phase of the call for applications entitled Support for on-farm investments improving the efficiency of irrigation development and water use will open on September 2. In the call for smaller projects, the maximum amount of support that farmers can apply for is 200 million forints – the announcement states. There is significant interest in the resources supporting more complex irrigation developments, with 90 applications already received in the first two submission phases. Applications will be submitted again on September 30. The available budget is 49.3 billion forints, and applicants can receive a minimum of 200 million forints and a maximum of 5 billion forints – the minister added. In addition to the two applications, a call for proposals will be launched on September 4 with a budget of 2 billion forints and a maximum grant of 75 million forints, which will provide sustainable water management communities with coverage for construction permits, planning or maintenance costs – they wrote. István Nagy also mentioned that the Ministry of Agriculture has supported more than 1,300 producer water management projects in the Rural Development Program, worth a total of 178 billion forints. As a result of all this, the irrigated area has expanded by 32 thousand hectares, and many old infrastructures have been renovated. Within this, more than 130 sustainable water management communities have received non-refundable support, worth about 10 billion forints. The aim is for the size of irrigated agricultural areas to reach 350 thousand hectares by 2030 – the Ministry of Agriculture announced.

MTI