Hungarian agriculture is at a tipping point

By: STA Date: 2024. 04. 11. 09:00

Despite the vicissitudes of recent years, Hungarian agriculture has proven its ability to export. In 2023, our export performance contributed significantly to the result of the budget, which provides outstanding opportunities for Hungarian farmers – said Sándor Farkas, deputy minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, in Túrkev, the county station of the Hágár region.

(Photo: AM/Tibor Vermes)

Sándor Farkas emphasized that agricultural subsidies contributed significantly to outstanding export performance at the level of the national economy as well. Thanks to the Hungarian government’s 80 percent co-financing, last year’s subsidies were the highest in the European Union as well. Around HUF 5,300 billion development resources are available until 2027. He added that the goal of the department is to increase the added value instead of raw material production, so by 2030 we want to make the Hungarian agricultural and food industry one of the most developed economies in Europe. This year, as part of the Common Agrarian Policy Strategy Plan, the department announces about 64 tender titles, which provide resources available to everyone, from the smallest farmers to farms with larger farms.

Sándor Farkas reminded that the possibility of submitting unified applications related to area-based subsidies has started today, farmers can submit their applications under 44 subsidy and rural development titles, up to and including the two months ahead. Taking into account the experience of the past years, the application system has become simpler and more transparent, but the chamber’s network of village farmers continues to help farmers.

The deputy minister pointed out that the Hungarian government has proven several times that it is a strong ally of the farming community. In addition to increasing the competitiveness of agricultural enterprises, the purpose of the development funds is to strengthen rural Hungary and to encourage people to stay in their locality.