The support program for the smallest producers continues

István Nagy, Minister of Agriculture (Photo: drnagyistvan.hu)

Many rural families have continued or started agricultural production in recent years as a form of income supplement. The announcement of a new call for applications with a budget of 29.4 billion forints, co-financed by the European Union, aimed at strengthening small agricultural enterprises, may be of particular help to them. The initiative, implemented within the framework of the CAP Strategic Plan, aims to support small-scale developments that will increase the income-generating capacity of the smallest farms, and even make full-time commodity farming a realistic goal. The call provides an opportunity to build, expand, and develop buildings and facilities related to animal husbandry, gardening, storage of field crops, and processing of agricultural products, or to purchase important machinery and equipment related to these activities. Illustrating with some examples from practice, future winners can thus build a laying hen barn, purchase important equipment for keeping and feeding animals, acquire a small tractor or work machine related to gardening activities, but they also have the opportunity to plant a plantation or put the equipment necessary for the production of food from the processing of vegetables and fruits into operation.

Within the framework of the call, those who already have a production activity but do not yet reach the minimum size of the agricultural holding can submit an application for support

This means that they have a holding with a standard production value greater than EUR 5,000 but less than EUR 10,000. Illustrating through practical examples, for example, a 2-hectare apple orchard corresponds to approximately EUR 7,700, potatoes planted on an area of ​​0.6 hectares to approximately EUR 5,800, 2 dairy cows to approximately EUR 5,500, 30 female goats to approximately EUR 5,200, and 60 bee colonies to approximately EUR 5,700. In the case of plant production, the data from the 2024 Single Application will be taken into account in the spring submission stages, while in the case of animal husbandry, the livestock according to the livestock register of the 12 months preceding the month of submission of the support application is the basis for the calculation of the size of the farm. The STÉ calculator on the website of the National Chamber of Agriculture provides assistance in determining the existing size of the farm.

An additional condition for submitting a support application is the commencement of agricultural activity at least 180 days prior to the submission of the application

Another important point to note is that only one application can be linked to one implementation site, and only one member of a family farm of primary producers can be supported. The possibility of submitting support applications will be available from March 5, 2025.

AM