According to a government official, the joint implementation of measures to increase agricultural productivity and climate protection is a major challenge.Continue reading
Good news for Hungarian agriculture from Brussels: according to the European Commission’s decision, the country is set to receive 8.4 billion euros, as part of the Common Agricultural Policy.
The European Commission approved the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan for Hungary on Monday. According to the Brussels body, the new CAP – set to start on 1 January 2023 -, is designed to shape the transition to a sustainable, resilient, and modern European agricultural sector.
The Hungarian Plan will receive 8.4 billion euros from the EU budget, including 2 billion euros dedicated to environmental and climate objectives and eco-schemes, and 186 million euros for young farmers. According to the Commission, Hungary’s plan offers a wide range of interventions aimed at securing a fair income for farmers, as well as achieving a fairer distribution of financial support amongst them.
Measures in the plan will also facilitate the setting-up of 8 800 young farmers. A priority of the Plan is the modernization of 7 700 farms. Short and local supply chains are also important elements in terms of market access for local products and reducing transport costs and emissions. Sectors facing difficulties will get additional income support in order to strengthen their resilience, the Brussels body wrote in its statement.
The Commission added that Hungary allocates, among others, 38 percent of the rural development budget to agri-environmental interventions, 8 percent to the further development of organic farming, and about 5 percent to the protection of Natura 2000 sites, which cover around 162 631 hectares. “These schemes added together will contribute to sustainable nutrient management and the reduction of fertilizer application and ammonia emissions,” they explained. In addition, Hungary’s ambition is to double the area under organic farming by 2027, the statement added.
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