Tibor Navracsics: the government is spending 3.8 billion forints to curb golden yellow grape disease

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Tibor Navracsics recalled that golden yellow grape disease has been present in Hungary since 2006, and in 2013 it reached a level where the National Food Chain Safety Office (Nébih) was already dealing with it. The situation has now become serious, with the wine region of Zala County being the most affected, as well as Badacsony and Szent György-hegy in Somogy County and Veszprém County, the minister said. In its resolution adopted on September 24, the government allocated 3.8 billion forints to curb the disease. This line of activities includes a number of activities, from communication to increasing laboratory capacity to cutting out affected vines and spraying – explained Tibor Navracsics.

The Ministry of Agriculture is tasked with reporting on the steps taken against golden yellows and their effectiveness

The first report has now been completed, the essence of which is that preparatory work began in the fall, the aim of which is to get an accurate picture of the size of the affected areas. The government is scheduled to adopt the report on Wednesday – he added. 200 professional groups were established for the task, and they examined 8,700 hectares of land belonging to 1,700 farmers – he said. Following the examination, the first test sprayings were also carried out in Somogy County; these proved to be effective. Winter will be a period of preparation, with farmers taking part in seminars to prepare them for the protection work that will resume in the spring. Changes in legislation are also expected to make it easier for farmers to replant. Negotiations have begun with the European Union to have the European Commission recognize the affected areas as disaster areas, so that farmers may be entitled to compensation, he added. Experience shows that in those countries where the disease appeared, it was only possible to suppress it. The aim is to prevent the spread of the disease to previously unaffected wine regions, primarily the Tokaj wine region, and the task in the affected areas is to localize it, which is likely to be achieved next year, the minister underlined.

MTI