István Nagy: generational change is becoming a reality in more and more places in Hungarian agriculture

(Photo: drnagyistvan.hu)

The Minister, who is the Fidesz MP for the region, highlighted in his speech that Hungary was among the first in the European Union to develop the legal background that makes the transfer of farms more flexible, simpler and more transparent, and that the process is also financially supported. He explained that they support both older farmers and young people, because the goal is to ensure that family farms and agricultural enterprises do not cease to exist with retirement, but continue to operate smoothly. In the case of transferors, i.e. older farmers, they support the orderly closure of farming and the transfer of the farm, and in the case of transferees, i.e. young farmers, they help production to continue uninterrupted and to take over the responsibilities and opportunities that come with the farm – he listed. István Nagy said that farms have so far submitted more than 2,100 applications for support for farm transfer cooperation, and decisions have already been made on 860 applications worth 10.6 billion forints. He added that it will be possible to submit support applications again from June 18. So far, 424 applications have been received from young farmers, i.e. from the recipients, worth 5.2 billion forints, he said, adding that this form of support will be continued, and applications will be able to be submitted again from April 2.

The minister also spoke about the fact that there is a third pillar of support for generational change

This supports young farmers who are not taking over an existing farm, but want to build their own. A support package of 79 billion forints has been opened for them. He added that the interest is huge, so far 1,428 young farmers have submitted their applications, worth about 80 billion forints. The first support decisions will be made soon. István Nagy emphasized that all this shows that generational change is not just a plan, but a living, working process in the Hungarian countryside. The result is a strengthening, developing agriculture, competitive farms, and safe, high-quality food. He emphasized: “we believe in the Hungarian land, in the work of Hungarian farmers, and in the strength of generations building on each other”.

He also mentioned that András Klauz laid the foundations of the family farm in 1984, when he was still working in backyard farming

He grew vegetables on a smaller area and made pickles from them. At the change of regime, he regained the family land and put the farm on a new foundation. Today, he farms more than a hundred hectares and operates his farm with a diverse cropping structure based on crop production. Corn, durum wheat and soybeans alternate on the fields. The Klauz family also does processing work: they produce and sell pickles from the ingredients grown in their own kitchen gardens – said István Nagy.

MTI