AM: Government strengthens the competitiveness of the sheep and lamb sector with subsidies

Tamás Tarpataki explained that the resources of the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan and government subsidies together ensure the stable operation of the sector, encourage the expansion of production, and strengthen the domestic and international market position of lamb. The subsidies support development along the entire value chain, from production to processing: significant resources are available for the modernization of livestock farms, food industry investments, breeding programs, animal welfare measures and gene conservation, while national subsidies also support the work of breeders and breeding organizations. Thanks to the developments of recent years, Hungarian small ruminant breeding has strengthened – explained the Deputy Secretary of State. According to the statement, Tamás Tarpataki said that the current event is also part of the Celebrate-EULAMB program, implemented in Spanish-Hungarian cooperation and lasting until 2027, which aims to increase the consumption of sheep and lamb meat. The European Union’s promotional tender system particularly supports campaigns implemented in cooperation with several member states. Such programs contribute to the stronger presence of quality European sheep and lamb meat on the market and to increasing demand both abroad and in Hungary.

Lamb is healthy and sustainable

The Deputy Secretary of State pointed out that the annual per capita consumption of lamb is currently only about 0.2 kilograms, while the product has excellent nutritional value, is easy to digest, and fits well into a health-conscious diet. Pasture-based sheep farming not only has a lower environmental impact compared to other livestock farming sectors, therefore consuming lamb also means supporting sustainable farming. The Hungarian sheep sector has significant export potential, but the goal is to increase domestic consumption and ensure the long-term profitability of producers. The Ministry of Agriculture supports with all available means that sheep and lamb meat regain their rightful place in Hungarian gastronomy, and that the sector further strengthens its role in sustainable and competitive agriculture, he added.

MTI