European Union cohesion funds dedicated to agriculture will serve as a job creation tool in the upcoming seven years as the government plans to reorganize its funding system, said János Lázár Minister of Prime Minister’s Office on Monday in Budapest,reports news agency MTI.
At a press conference, held with Sándor Fazekas, Minister of Rural Development of Hungary, and Balázs Győrffy, Chairman of the National Chamber of Agriculture, Lázár expressed the need for supporting small farms. The current program favors small and middle, family owned farms, said Lázár. He added that the negotiations between the government and the European Commission over the distribution of funds is nearing completion, signing a new partnership within a month has no obstacles.
In the next seven years the cohesion funds will provide EUR 23 billion (7200 bln HUF) to support development of infrastructure and human resources, of which EUR 3.5 billion (1100 bln HUF) will go to agricultural projects. Sándor Fazekas added that the goals of the Hungarian agricultural funds are to provide job opportunities for people living in the countryside, to secure the food supply of the country and to have as many Hungarian products home and abroad, as possible. (MTI)
MTI photo Tibor Illyés