The agricultural support system provides significant help for adaptation

(Photo: AM/István Fekete)

In his welcome speech, Zsolt Feldman explained that the set of conditions of the Common Agricultural Policy (KAP) between 2023-2027 sets many expectations for farmers, but also contains many opportunities. Discussing the challenges caused by Ukrainian grain and competitiveness, the state secretary emphasized the importance of implementing unique adaptation strategies. As an example, in the case of arable plant growers, he mentioned the diversification of the production structure or the cultivation of more valuable crops on an increasing proportion of the land, for which agricultural subsidies can provide effective help, he added.

The representative of the ministry explained the changes and expectations

Anikó Juhász, Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, presented what the growing EU green expectations of the new Common Agricultural Policy, which are related to climate change, the use of natural resources, and the preservation of landscapes and biodiversity, mean in practice, and how they are handled by the domestic agricultural support system. The deputy state secretary also detailed the expected changes related to the 2024 unified application and the Agricultural Ecology Program, which were developed based on the farmers’ signals. In the case of uniform applications, among other things, a number of procedural rules have been transferred to the KAP executive decree, and the notification of the second sowing harvest has also been simplified. Previously, in the Agro-ecology Program, if a producer did not meet the requirements, he lost the full support. The novelty of the intervention, as well as feedback from the sector and financiers, justified the introduction of the band sanction system.

This is when the first application package appears

Deputy State Secretary György Zsolt Papp informed that in the spring, the Ministry of Agriculture intends to publish the first tender package for agricultural and food industry investments, which includes calls to support investments in the food industry and wine industry, the feed industry, horticulture and animal husbandry. He explained the most important information related to calls for tenders, the key evaluation aspects, the separate management of smaller and larger projects, and that an advance financing scheme is being prepared. He also mentioned that extensive professional consultation is conducted for all support schemes. The tenders to be announced will provide the farms with the opportunity to respond to the economic and market changes of the past two years, to make their production more efficient or even to open up in the direction of standing on more than one foot.

AM