Livestock breeders who engage in grass-based grazing can gain access to new resources

By: STA Date: 2023. 02. 24. 09:00

In the Common Agricultural Policy (KAP) until 2027, a number of new elements and forms of support will appear, which will provide assistance in more ways than before for extensive animal husbandry built on grassland – Zsolt Feldman informed the participants of the meeting organized by the Association of Hungarian Buffalo Breeders on Friday in Hajdúnánás.

(Photo: Pixabay)

The Secretary of State responsible for agriculture and rural development of the Ministry of Agriculture held the II. He said at the buffalo consultation that those livestock sectors that practice grass-based grazing will also have access to new resources in the now-starting agricultural support system, while the previous support options are also available to them.

Zsolt Feldman spoke about the results of the call for tenders published in 2021, which help preserve the genes of protected indigenous and endangered agricultural animal breeds

Last year, farmers submitted 1,980 applications for more than 100,000 animals. So far, 1,720 support decisions have been made, with almost 20 billion forints committed. A significant proportion of this benefited the buffalo farmers, as a subsidy of almost HUF 2 billion was awarded for more than 4,000 buffaloes. New calls on the topic of gene conservation can be expected in 2024.

In his presentation, the state secretary outlined the support conditions of the CAP for the period between 2023-2027

He indicated that, in accordance with EU regulations, sustainability has been given a more significant role in the new Common Agricultural Policy than in the past, and at the same time, the Hungarian government, by increasing the level of national co-financing, sought to balance the environmental and competitiveness aspects. The KAP Strategy Plan changes the rules for area-based subsidies, new forms of support appear, and the agro-ecology program also starts, which is why it is important for farmers to prepare for the uniform application period.

Zsolt Feldman also spoke about the merging of the previously known fund and greening subsidies, on which the Agricultural Ecology Program will be built. Every farmer will be able to decide on his participation in this every year, based on the capabilities of his own farm, production practices, and vision for the future.