István Nagy: More than 3 thousand billion forints will be allocated for infrastructure investments in rural development by 2027

István Nagy emphasized that since 2010, the “21st century rebirth” of the Hungarian countryside and agriculture has been taking place, huge infrastructure development has been implemented and a huge amount of support has reached the farming community.

One hundred and ten tenders were announced, 400 thousand support documents were issued and 2,705 billion forints were paid in terms of area-based subsidies, in addition, 54 thousand investments were completed worth 1,600 billion forints. In the horticulture sector, 6 thousand hectares of new greenhouse surfaces were created and 4 thousand hectares of new intensive orchards were planted – the Minister listed.

He explained that

technological modernizations supported by subsidies increased the added value and processing level of agricultural products. This helped employment and the improvement of the quality of life, and through this, rural people found work, livelihood and security

– he added.

István Nagy called it gratifying that 5 thousand people had already taken advantage of the opportunities provided by the young farmer program, they started farming or continued their parents’ work.

István Nagy called the government’s decision to increase the national co-financing rate to 80 percent in the current EU term historic in relation to the common agricultural policy, according to which the cabinet increased the rate of national co-financing to 80 percent in the current EU term, making more than 3 thousand billion forints available for infrastructure investments in rural development.

The Minister of Agriculture also said that he had proposed an EU-level vaccination program at the last meeting of EU agriculture ministers in Brussels. This was very well received, as twenty-four out of twenty-seven agricultural ministers immediately supported the proposal, so this could be a successful program – István Nagy emphasized.

Speaking as a guest on Kossuth Radio’s Good Morning, Hungary! program about Ukraine’s possible accession to the European Union, the Minister of Agriculture said,

As a result of the free trade agreement between the European Union and Ukraine, Ukrainian agricultural products flooded the whole of Europe without any quantitative or quality control, which caused the collapse of the internal market and farmer protests.

In Ukraine, insecticides and pesticides banned in the EU for twenty years, as well as GMO seeds, are used, and the situation of complete lack of control affects food quality and poses a threat to our food sovereignty and food security – the Minister stated.

He pointed out that no one can be admitted to the ranks of the European Union members unprepared; they must go through the process of preparation, just as Hungary did.