The government is giving priority to the generational change in agriculture

(Photo: AM)

At the evaluation conference of the Youth Guarantee Plus Pillar Project (IGP) announced within the framework of the Economic Development and Innovation Operational Programme Plus (GINOP Plus), József Viski reminded that the aging of society in Europe is causing exponential problems in agriculture. From the point of view of food security, it is of paramount importance that those working in agriculture do not age, that there is a new generation and that farmers can pass on their farms, he pointed out, highlighting that one of the most serious structural challenges of European agriculture at present is the continuous aging of the farming community. He pointed out that the average age of farmers in the European Union increased from 55 to 57 years between 2010 and 2020 – and even further since then – while the proportion of younger age groups decreased, and farm managers over 65 years old are increasingly important. The increase in the average age of those working in the sector also threatens the continuity of production and the renewal of rural areas in the long term, he pointed out, highlighting that Hungary’s data are generally in line with EU trends. He underlined, however, that a more marked downward trend can be observed in the 55-64 age group between 2010 and 2023, which indicates that some elements of the government’s measures – introduced for the first time at EU level – to encourage generational change have already appeared noticeably. He indicated that the Ministry of Agriculture places special emphasis on interventions supporting generational change to address the challenges related to the aging of the farming community. He reported that there are currently independent measures to encourage farm transfer and farm takeover, and that calls are also available to help young farmers get started. The EU funds, supplemented by 80 percent domestic co-financing, aim to serve the needs of those involved in generational change in such a way that cooperation between generations is successful in as many life situations as possible with appropriate support, he emphasized.

In the case of the call to support farm takeover, 318 support applications have been submitted so far, worth 4 billion forints

In the call to support farm transfer, 2,169 support applications were received, worth 26.8 billion forints, and of these, decisions have already been made to support 860 applications, worth 10.61 billion forints. The call for proposals to support the start-up and investment of young agricultural producers has received 1,350 applications worth 80 billion forints so far, the state secretary informed. József Viski stressed that ensuring professional renewal is also a key issue for long-term renewal. Secondary and higher agricultural training, as well as the scholarships and grants related to them, are expected to contribute greatly to making agriculture an attractive and predictable career path for young people. The aim is for knowledge transfer, economic transfer and support for young farmers to reinforce each other and ensure the renewal and competitiveness of Hungarian agriculture in the coming decades, he highlighted. Regarding the European Commission’s intention to conclude free trade agreements with South American countries and Ukraine, József Viski said: all of this is harmful to European farmers. The agreements would flood the continent’s market with cheap, uncontrolled products of dubious quality, which must be opposed, he said. At the press conference prior to the event, Zoltán Horváth, the Chief of Baranya, announced that the Baranya Government Office has continuously helped young people – not only those working in agriculture – find work in recent years. In the past two years alone, more than 1,700 people have been involved in the IGP project, which is being funded with 4.7 billion forints, he highlighted.

AM/MTI