Zsolt Feldman Each goose and duck product shows the performance of Hungarian agriculture

(Photo: Pixabay)

Zsolt Feldman said at the opening of the XXIV. Kiskunfélegyházi Goose Festival, he said: the government is trying to provide assistance to make the life of the waterfowl sector, which is struggling with many challenges, as stable as possible. Among the difficulties affecting the Hungarian goose industry, he singled out bird flu, the latest outbreak of which resulted in the killing of a total of 1.3 million ducks and geese by April, while a total of 1.1 million geese were slaughtered in slaughterhouses this semester. He reminded: within the framework of the most recent rural development program, 14 billion forints of support that could be used for site development had already been paid out. They also launched a new animal welfare support program, which already affects 150 waterfowl farmers. However, according to the state secretary, it is also important to introduce goose and duck products as widely as possible, since the per capita consumption of goose products in Hungary is only one kilogram per year.

They promote goose and duck meat with a campaign

Zsolt Feldman reminded: this is why the government tried to show how geese and ducks can be used as grilled meat during the summer season – as part of its campaign promoting the consumption of poultry meat. He also talked about the fact that in the fall they will be faced with a European Union citizen regulation package that may pose new challenges for the businesses working in the waterfowl sector in relation to housing, transportation, and cutting, so they must be prepared for this. The state secretary emphasized that a regulatory package is being prepared, which will provide a basis for strengthening trust between the various actors. In essence, it will help producers and livestock keepers working in the waterfowl sector so that their relations with buyers and slaughterhouses can operate in a contractual environment that provides much greater security and predictability.

They are celebrating with a two-day series of programs and a professional conference

Sándor Lezsák, the vice-president of the Parliament and the region’s parliamentary representative, emphasized in his opening remarks: all ages can find exciting programs in the series of events of the Kiskunfélegyházi Swan Festival, which is now nationally known and aims to respect and nurture Hungarian traditions. The twenty-fourth edition of the two-day program series will not miss the usual events, such as the goose dishes competition or the Kunság Folk Dance Meeting. Adapting to the nature of the festival, a poultry products fair, a petting zoo for children, and the members of the Holló László Képzőművész Kör can also paint goose models. This time, the Matyi Lúdas chess and running competition will also be organized, there will be a blood donation, as well as health screening and counseling. The evenings end with concerts, and in the artisans’ street they prepare a fair and demonstrations. József Csányi, the mayor of Kiskunfélegyháza, spoke about how the importance and popularity of the goose festival is shown by the fact that a professional conference on the situation of the waterfowl sector is also organized in connection with the series of programs.

MTI