The Ministry of Agriculture held a Hungaricum Day at the Sziget Festival’s “Civil Sziget” in Budapest on Thursday to promote Hungarian national treasures among young people from at home and abroad, the Minister of State for Environmental Affairs, Agricultural Development and Hungaricums said.

At a press conference held on site, Zsolt V. Németh stressed that Central Europe’s largest music festival is very important to the Ministry, because it affords an opportunity to increase awareness of Hungary’s national treasures, excellent quality foods and drinks, amazing natural environment and not least cultural heritage to a large group of open and culturally sensitive people.

Deputy State Secretary for Agricultural Development and Hungaricums István Lóránd Szakáli emphasised at the press conference that the documentation and protection of Hungaricums not only serves to preserve our traditions but is also important with regard to foreign trade, tourism and culture diplomacy, in which the state is giving a decisive role to the younger generation.

Dávid Mezőszentgyörgyi, Director General of the National Institute for Agricultural Advice, Training and Rural Development (NAKVI), reported on the fact that the Institute is applying to foreign internships for Agriculture students in the hope that there will be increasing numbers of young farmers in Hungary.

In reply to a question from Hungarian news agency MTI, the Director General said that the NAKVI and the Government are striving to create more opportunities for young farmers so that they continue their farming activities here at home following their studies abroad, thus further increasing the value of the Hungarian economy.

Support for Young Farmers will be one of the priority programmes of the 2014-2020 EU financial period: in addition to receiving funding to start up their business, young farmers will also receive money for a period of four years to develop their farms. The NAKVI hopes that further funding will also be available in future for international and youth projects.
There are 4000 young farmers in Hungary, but the NAKVI is expecting a significant increase in view of the fact that some 60-70 billion forints (EUR 190-220 million) in funding will be available over the next seven years specifically to support young farmers.

The realisation of plans with respect to young farmers are helped by the Land Act and by funding and tender policy, the Director General said.

(MTI/Ministry of Agriculture Press Office)