New irrigation development sources open for farmers in September

(Photo: AM/Csaba Pelsőczy)

Imre Hubai emphasized at a press conference held at one of the structures of the Eastern Main Canal that in September, both projects under 200 million forints and between 200 million and 5 billion forints, which will support irrigation development and sustainable water management communities, will be continuously announced. The politician, who is the head of the drought protection operational group, reminded that the government has already published calls for tenders to help adapt to climate change, of which nearly 170 billion forints of funds have been committed in the past year alone. Of this, 116 billion forints are already called and accounted for development support for farmers, and an additional 66 billion forints of irrigation development funds are under decision this year, he added. “We are confident that farmers will take advantage of the tender opportunity and use the non-refundable grants while we have the opportunity to do so,” said Imre Hubai, who emphasized at a press conference held at one of the structures of the Eastern Main Canal that in September, both projects under 200 million forints and between 200 million and 5 billion forints, which will support irrigation development and sustainable water management communities in particular, will be continuously announced. The politician, who is the head of the drought protection operational group, reminded that the government has already published calls for applications to help adapt to climate change, of which nearly 170 billion forints of funds have been committed in the past year alone. Of this, 116 billion forints are already called and accounted for development support for farmers, and an additional 66 billion forints of irrigation development funds are under decision this year, he added. “We trust that farmers will take advantage of the application opportunity and use the non-refundable subsidies while we have the opportunity to do so,” said Imre Hubai.

Imre Hubai mentioned that, at the proposal of István Nagy, Minister of Agriculture, irrigation water will be free of charge this year as well

This means that farmers have received nearly 12 billion forints of funding so that the water sector can provide them with irrigation water free of charge this year as well. Thanks to this, more than 1,300 water users engaged in irrigation activities will receive free irrigation water, and in addition to arable land irrigation, the water resources necessary for rice cultivation and the operation of fish ponds will be provided to farmers free of charge, the state secretary explained. Regarding the reconstruction of the Eastern Main Canal, the politician said that thanks to the Environmental and Energy Efficiency Operational Programme Plus, not only the water withdrawal structures and the Tiszalök dam, but also the main canal itself can be renewed for about forty kilometers, all the way to Balmazújváros. By restoring the condition of the riverbed, the regional water management directorate is helping to increase the water storage and water discharge capacity of the canal, since currently only about 24 percent of the main canal can be utilized for this purpose, he added. Vinnai Győző, the Fidesz MP for the region, called the renewal of the main canal a very important issue at the briefing, emphasizing that ensuring long-term water supply and preventing drought is a big challenge for local farmers.

AM/MTI