AM: Ministry of Agriculture supports the grape and wine sector with subsidies and measures

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The statement quoted Imre Hubai, the Minister of Agriculture’s State Secretary for Agriculture, who said at the 8th BorÉRT conference in Budapest that Hungarian wine is a unique national treasure that also represents economic, cultural and community value. The grape and wine sector behind it is of strategic importance, which is why the government supports its survival and strengthening of its competitiveness with resources and targeted measures. Imre Hubai highlighted that one of the cornerstones of the sector’s renewal was the transformation of the mountain village system, thanks to which professional interest representation was strengthened and administration became simpler.

The central management of the mountain judge system has created a stable basis for the development of a one-stop administration

All this has contributed to producers being able to operate in a more predictable and transparent operating environment. In recent years, the government has significantly reduced the administration and costs burdening wineries. New excise and wine law regulations have simplified records, introduced the status of small-scale wine producers, and facilitated local sales. In addition, wine producers have received significant financial and administrative benefits when waste management rules were introduced, the State Secretary explained. Imre Hubai stated that the government provides long-term subsidies for the modernization of vineyards, wine investments, and the implementation of innovation and marketing goals, adapting to changing circumstances. Within the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan, a budget of almost 112 million euros is available for these purposes until 2027. The State Secretary also spoke about how the subsidies for the restructuring of vineyards and wine investments have brought tangible results in the past decade and a half: since 2010, about 35 thousand hectares of vineyards have been renewed, with about 88 billion forints in support, while more than 21 billion forints have been allocated for wine investments. Applications for the restructuring of vineyards investment subsidies were open at the end of last year, and the applications are currently being assessed.

The Ministry of Agriculture also pays special attention to action against the golden yellow disease of grapes

The government adopted a national action plan consisting of seven elements in the fall of 2025, which included detection, increasing laboratory capacities, a national pesticide protection program and expanding the range of available pesticides. Building on the experiences of last fall, the preparation of measures for this year has already begun – noted Imre Hubai in the AM statement.

MTI