The Ministry of Agriculture will continue to support farmers’ awareness in 2026

In addition to farmers’ self-care, the Hungarian government is also trying to help farmers with as many tools as possible, which is why it achieved with the European Commission last year that farmers who suffered from frost damage in addition to drought damage could also receive extraordinary support, the minister explained. He said: the Ministry of Agriculture shows its commitment by continuously developing the domestic agricultural support environment in order to maintain the liquidity of producers while raising farmer awareness. In addition to direct subsidies and appropriately targeted investment calls, it draws attention to the importance of adaptation in agriculture, and also operates a consistently designed risk management system, István Nagy explained. The agricultural risk management system (MKR), which has been in operation since 2012 and has been continuously developed and monitored, effectively contributes to the subsequent mitigation of agricultural damage caused by increasingly extreme weather conditions.

István Nagy also spoke about how last year’s farming year once again presented farmers with serious challenges

The livestock sector was hit by the foot-and-mouth disease virus in early spring, fruit and grape growers faced repeated, severe spring frost damage, while arable crop growers suffered significant drought damage in many regions of the country. He emphasized that the unpredictable weather and the emergence of epidemic animal and plant diseases have once again drawn attention to the importance of farmer awareness and agricultural risk management. He highlighted that the agricultural crisis insurance system, which has been in operation since 2021, is considered the most innovative measure of agricultural risk management tools. The measure, which is currently unique at the EU level, serves to effectively manage all risk factors beyond weather risks – be it the outbreak of animal or plant diseases, increased production costs, a decrease in market prices or even market losses – that cause a decrease in farmers’ income. István Nagy drew attention to the fact that farmers have the opportunity to join the system between February 1 and February 28 of each year, and the application for membership must be submitted electronically to the Hungarian State Treasury.

Farmers can obtain membership for a period of 3 years

According to the Minister, after joining, farmers must pay a very fair financial contribution to the Crisis Insurance Fund every year, this contribution will be supplemented by EU funds. He said that this system fairly compensates for the decrease in farmers’ income, which is worth joining in 2026 as well. He called farmer awareness important, pointing out that the market and climatic conditions of the production environment still cannot be predicted. “Especially now, when the European Commission is trying to eliminate the well-functioning agricultural support system, abolishing the two-pillar Common Agricultural Policy,” said István Nagy, adding that the decision-makers in Brussels are planning along grand political goals, disregarding the interests of farmers and consumer safety. He emphasized that Hungary will stand up for Hungarian farmers and families in 2026 as well.

MTI