The Ministry of Agriculture pays special attention to supporting the horticultural sector

(Photo: AM/Tibor Vermes)

The State Secretary reminded that last year presented a serious test to the horticultural sector, ornamental tree nurseries and ornamental plant growers, as businesses had to deal with devastating frost in the spring. To mitigate the damage, the government provided an advance payment from the damage mitigation fund to those affected as emergency aid. Almost one and a half billion forints were able to reach producers more than half a year earlier than usual. In addition, our country also managed to obtain four billion forints from the European Union crisis fund to compensate for the damage. In fact, a new support opportunity is now opening up within the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan. In the coming period, the government will provide a budget of 2 billion forints to help renew plantations damaged by frost, he added.

Imre Hubai emphasized that, in addition to damage mitigation, prevention and promoting adaptation to climate conditions are at least as important for the Ministry of Agriculture

A tender announced at the end of last year with a budget of three billion forints, which was also available to ornamental tree nurseries, closed. The ministry also supported the development of ornamental horticulture. It was possible to expand greenhouse capacities, modernize glass and foil houses, and develop post-harvest technologies. 129 investments received more than 64 billion forints under the program. Furthermore, the ministry provided funds for the development of horticultural and ornamental horticultural plants, and for the purchase of modern machinery and equipment. About two thousand applications were received for these, and then in the amount of 40 billion forints. So far, almost 1,700 applications have received support, worth more than 30 billion forints. Farmers, as before, can continue to count on government support – the State Secretary underlined.

AM