The new pig farms of FirstFarms Hungary Kft. were handed over

(Photo: Tibor Vermes)

Tamás Tarpataki, the Deputy Secretary of State responsible for the agricultural market at the Ministry of Agriculture, said at the presentation that the Hungarian pig sector has gone through many vicissitudes since the regime change. The current investment is forward-looking, as the sector’s external exposure can be reduced if the pigs are raised and slaughtered in Hungary – he underlined.

The government supports livestock keepers with such methods

Since there are no direct EU subsidies in livestock breeding, in contrast to crop production, the government gives priority to livestock keepers when planning rural development programs: with development and investment subsidies, regulation, community marketing tools, crisis and epidemic prevention subsidies, expansion of export markets, he explained. Up until now, since 2014, subsidies exceeding HUF 400 billion have been given for the modernization of livestock farms, he noted. The deputy state secretary reminded that the government decided to provide a maximum of 80 percent domestic co-financing in addition to the 2020-2027 EU subsidies, so HUF 4,265 billion is available for rural development. “This provides a historic opportunity for Hungarian agriculture,” he said.

Anders Norgaard, CEO of the FirstFarms group, said that this is the biggest investment in the company’s life

In the first week of May, the first piglets arrive at the plot girder hatchery. He expressed his gratitude for the HUF 2.5 billion state support. Tamás Herczeg, member of the parliament of the 1st electoral district of Békés county, said that 40 years ago there were about 10 million pigs in Hungary, today there are 2.5 million, so “there is room for improvement”. With the investment, not only will new jobs be created, but the road network of the settlements will also improve, and they will be able to supply farmers with organic fertilizer, he added. Norbert Erdős, the parliamentary representative of the 4th electoral district of Békés county, said that of the 2.5 million pigs in Békés, about 245,000 are bred. , making the county the third largest pig producer in Hungary. Tamás Sarusi-Kis, managing director of FirstFarms Hungary Kft., said that the foundation stone of the investment was laid on February 24, 2022, the day when the Russian-Ukrainian war broke out, which rewrote commodity market prices. Despite this, the construction was completed in 14 months.
During the investment completed in 14 months, a sow farrowing farm with two thousand beds was built in Telekgerendás; And in Pusztaföldvár, the breeders have a pig breeding colony, with which they have the opportunity to breed 4,500 sows. A building complex with a floor area of approximately 18,500 square meters was built on the two sites, for which 1,750 truckloads of concrete were laid. The buildings are powered by solar panels, and the optimal temperature is ensured by heat recovered from liquid manure – using a technology that is currently unique in Hungary. The investment will create 20-30 new jobs in the region.

MTI