Donations are ongoing for the Bread of Hungarians – 15 million wheat grains program on the occasion of the Carpathian Basin Wheat Merger

(Photo: AM/Csaba Pelsőczy)

István Nagy spoke at the event organized by the National Chamber of Agriculture (NAK), the National Association of Hungarian Farmers and Farmers’ Cooperatives (MAGOSZ), the Hungarian Bread Foundation and the Mayor’s Office of Szolnok County City, saying that the program has become a kind of new national holiday for more than a decade has grown into: a grassroots celebration of selfless helpfulness, national unity, a celebration of all Hungarians. This program intends to give more than aid, he said. It wants to give compatriots with a difficult fate a chance to live a life worthy of a human being, to preserve human values, and to develop their abilities.

The minister spoke about the fact that nowadays security of supply and daily bread are of the first order, therefore the stabilization and protection functions of the state are valued

The development of the program is still unbroken today, this is only possible if it is “fed by the power of love”, he said. István Nagy thanked the farmers for their work, who stood up excellently in a difficult and difficult period. The result is that “today the new bread is on the table” and the country’s bread is guaranteed all year round, he declared. He reported that this season’s autumn barley harvest has been completed in recent weeks, the national average yield is 5.5 tons per hectare. The wheat harvest has also ended, the average yield per hectare is around 5.6 tons, while the average yield of spring barley is 4.4 tons per hectare. For triticale, it is 4.7 tons, and for rye, 3.3 tons.

The minister explained: the extremely low purchase prices of grain and oil crops in summer cause difficult challenges

The continuous changes due to the Russian-Ukrainian war, the complete exemption from customs duties granted to Ukraine, and the blockade of the Black Sea ports also cause extreme difficulties in transportation options. He stated: the government always stands by the Hungarian farmers in all circumstances. Safe food supply is also a matter of national security, and Hungarian agriculture is capable of supplying more than 20 million people, he pointed out. István Nagy highlighted: all actors of the international community must understand that grain cannot be a tool of war. Its absence will cause famine, which will lead to another war, he said. If a famine comes, it will lead to a wave of migration, which may have unforeseeable consequences and the internal market of the European Union may be completely overturned, he warned. The minister promised that the Ministry of Agriculture will act with all possible means to control the former markets of Ukrainian grain and thereby promote sales opportunities for domestic farmers.

All Transcarpathia participated in the event

István Jakab, the vice-president of the Parliament and the president of the National Association of Hungarian Farmers’ Associations and Farmers’ Cooperatives (MAGOSZ), praised the fact that the whole of Transcarpathia, “historical Hungary”, is present at the current event. “Now the city of Szolnok is the capital of the farmers of historical Hungary,” he said. He recalled that Hungary was torn to pieces in Trianon, but now thanks to the farmers, the nation is together, the feeling of belonging gives strength to standing up, he said. He spoke of donations being given as gifts, with respect and love. According to him, he has visited Transcarpathia several times since the beginning of the war, because “people need to feel that we are there not only in spirit, but also physically”. Balázs Győrffy, the president of the National Chamber of Agrarian Economy (NAK), reminded that the program has taken off in Baranya county, and it is the thirteenth year that wheat merging has taken place. According to his words, faith, altruism, devotion, and responsibility towards our compatriots are in every offered wheat. He thanked the farmers who, despite last year’s drought, collected the same amount of grain as in the previous good year. About eight thousand farmers participated in the program, donations are still ongoing, he noted. He added that several counties are performing outstandingly, including Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok.

MTI