NAK-HNT: the countryside has joined forces to protect Hungarian vineyards

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As they wrote, an unprecedented collaboration has developed in the Hungarian grape and wine sector in recent weeks. During the protection against golden yellows (grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma FD), the national inspection program was carried out effectively with the coordination of the National Council of Mountain Communities, with the participation and cooperation of the National Chamber of Agriculture, mountain communities, winemakers and authorities.

Experts worked to prevent the spread of the disease threatening the vineyards

More than 200 inspection groups have been working in the Hungarian wine regions in recent days, and a total of 3,385 hectares of vineyards were inspected during the program. The more than 1,600 participants, including grape growers, mountain judges, village economists, plant protection inspectors and professional organizations, worked towards a common goal. NAK employees also played their part in the work: 62 colleagues from 13 county chambers spent almost 350 working hours on the reconnaissance – the data was listed. As a result of the work of recent days, infected vines have been identified in all major grape-growing regions of the country. In many cases, the diseased vines were recognized and removed in good time.

However, the success of the program cannot be measured only in numbers

As a result of the joint work, professional and community cooperation between wine regions has been strengthened, and the protection of the Hungarian grape and wine sector has reached a new level – the announcement highlighted. FD is one of the most dangerous pathogens of grapes. As a result of the infection, the yield of grapevines can decrease by 20-50 percent, and the disease can destroy entire plantations in a few years. Moreover, producers can only protect themselves against the infection through prevention and the destruction of already infected vines. The disease is currently present in 21 domestic wine regions. It is no exaggeration to say that golden yellows is one of the most serious plant protection challenges in Hungarian viticulture, which also threatens the future of wine regions, the livelihood of local communities and the traditions of Hungarian wine culture – they emphasized. That is why the collaboration that was established in order to stop the spread of the infection is of particular importance – the NAK and HNT summarized in their joint announcement.

MTI