The first calls for investment tenders will appear in the spring

By: STA Date: 2024. 02. 08. 09:00

Zsolt Feldman spoke about the tenders to be announced by the Ministry of Agriculture this year, the commitments that are more strongly evaluated during the evaluation, and the measures to support investments at the professional program held in Kéthely by the iFood Élélmiszer Klaszter, which brings together food industry businesses and related organizations from the south of the Danube.

(Photo: AM/Csaba Pelsőczy)

The state secretary responsible for agriculture and rural development indicated that a tender package with a frame amount of HUF 200 billion is being prepared just for food and feed processors. Zsolt Feldman emphasized the novelties of the application system at the event of the Somogyi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kaposvár University, which is now part of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and the organization founded more than ten years ago by the prominent food industry enterprises of the region. As he said, in the period of the Common Agricultural Policy until 2027, the Ministry of Agriculture focuses on supporting those investments where their added value is proven, they are financially sound, the investing company maintains long-term sales or procurement relationships with its business partners, and digitalization solutions are becoming more and more widespread. in order to use it widely. The support system encourages not only developments, but also cooperation in the supply chain, since many programs are aimed at developing and expanding different food quality systems, or wish to promote joining internationally recognized quality assurance and management systems.

Zsolt Feldman listed who can count on special attention in investment applications

Young agricultural producers, producer cooperations, but also farmers participating in the transfer of farms, as well as the investments of ecological farmers and producer cooperations, can count on a 10-15 percent higher support intensity. The Ministry of Agriculture supports the financing of investments with new tools, they plan the accountability of interest costs related to investment loans or, for example, create the possibility of advance financing without collateral in the application system.

The State Secretary mentioned that the Ministry of Agriculture is working on the preparation of separate investment calls for small and large enterprises

This will be favorable for smaller plants, so they will not have to compete with large companies. Continuously announced tenders throughout the year will ensure that, in response to the economic and market changes of the past two years, they can make their production more efficient or even open in the direction of standing on more than one foot.