The next round of applications for irrigation development projects will start in the fall

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According to the Minister, the rapidly changing climate environment poses significant challenges for agricultural producers. Although water retention and soil condition improvement are already facilitated by the application of many good agrotechnologies, in order to increase crop and food security, continuous irrigation development is needed in addition to supporting their spread. Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture is also supporting irrigation development within the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy, in addition to encouraging the application of water-conserving farming practices. He explained that from the spring of 2025, and in the next phase from the autumn, it will be possible to apply for the implementation of irrigation development investments continuously. The funds represent an opportunity to optimize the water use of irrigation systems, to modernize, expand and reconstruct water-saving irrigation infrastructure and related structures, and to create new irrigation water supply works and systems. The introduction of these water-saving irrigation technologies is supported by two applications. The third stage of the call for applications entitled Support for on-farm investments improving the efficiency of irrigation development and water use will open on September 2. In the call for smaller projects, the maximum amount of support that farmers can apply for is HUF 200 million.

There is significant interest in funds supporting more complex irrigation developments, with a total of 90 applications received in the first two submission stages

The opportunity to submit applications will open again on September 30. The available budget is 49.3 billion forints, and applicants can win a minimum of 200 million forints and a maximum of 5 billion forints in support, he added. In addition to the two applications, a call for proposals will be launched on September 4 with a budget of 2 billion forints and a maximum grant of 75 million forints, which will provide sustainable water management communities with coverage for construction permits, planning or maintenance costs. He also mentioned that the Ministry of Agriculture supported more than 1,300 producer water management projects in the Rural Development Program, worth a total of 178 billion forints. As a result, the irrigated area has expanded by 32 thousand hectares, and many old infrastructures have been renovated. Within this, more than 130 sustainable water management communities have received non-refundable support, worth approximately 10 billion forints. The goal is to reach 350 thousand hectares of irrigated agricultural areas by 2030.

AM