Magazine: Zsendülés conference: a very important event for the horticulture sector in Szeged

Kert-Ész Klub Hungary Association and Vitamin Szalon Kft. organised their 1st Zsendülés Horticulture Conference in mid-April in Szeged. The European Union budgetary cycle that ends in 2020 guarantees more funding than ever before, but 1 year has already passed and no tenders have been announced yet. According to György Czerván, secretary of state at the Ministry of Agriculture horticulture played a very important role in the superb performance of Hungary’s agriculture last year: it contributed 13-14 percent of total agricultural production value. Since 2011 horticulture’s production value has been growing and its value exceeded HUF 300 billion in 2013. Miklós Zsolt Kis, secretary of state for agricultural and rural development told that a simpler system would be used in implementing the Rural Development Plan, for instance young farmers will be granted funding in a less complicated procedure. Horticulture has a special place in the programme and the proportion of financing can be as much as 50 percent. Maximum HUF 500 million can be won for one project. The total budget for subsidising agricultural projects will be HUF 70 billion, winemakers will be financed from HUF 20 billion and food processing will be funded from HUF 200 billion. Balázs Győrffy, president of the Hungarian Chamber of Agriculture (NAK) informed that they plan to start many new services this year. They also want to issue a plastic card for primary producers that would make controlling simpler, in order to fight the black economy. Many have recommend reducing the VAT on basic food products but the 5-10 percent VAT level would mean HUF 180-240 billion less for the state budget. Mr Győrffy said it would be best to lower the VAT step by step and in the case of certain products only. György Imre Lipcsey, deputy CEO responsible for agricultural marketing at Hungarian Tourism Zrt. revealed that through their Agricultural Marketing Centre they wish to strengthen the cooperation between actors in agriculture and the food industry, harmonising their marketing activities as well. Zoltán Házi, the CEO of the Budapest Wholesale Market called attention to the fact that producers should adapt to the needs of customers and their timing more and more. He told that in the future they intend to participate in marketing programmes promoting fruit and vegetable consumption. László Murányi, president of the Hungarian Franchise Association introduced the business model that is based on buying a franchise brand. József Rácz talked about the Vitamin Salon franchise: units are legally and financially independent businesses that operate at their own risk, what they get with the franchise rights are the registered brand name and the confidential know-how.

Balról jobbra: Győrffy Balázs (NAK, elnök) Kis Miklós Zsolt (államtitkár, FM), Czerván György (államtitkár, FM) és Rácz József (Kert-Ész Klub Magyarország Egyesület, elnök)