Important tasks within the field of agriculture include the reduction of unemployment, facilitating the further whitening of agriculture, increasing the size of irrigated areas and increasing processing capacities, candidate for the post of Minister of Agriculture István Nagy said, amongst others, at his hearing before Parliament’s Agriculture Committee on Monday in Budapest.

Mr. Nagy said he plans to redirect fifty thousand public works programme employees to the private sector and specifically agriculture to reduce tensions caused by labour shortages.

103 thousand hectares are currently being irrigated in Hungary, whereas there are valid permits for the watering of double this area and there is demand for the irrigation of some 400-500 thousand hectares, he underlined, referring to the fact that he regards providing for this demand as one of the Ministry’s important duties.

Mr. Nagy said it was untenable that there is insufficient capacity in Hungary for the processing of certain products, such as soy, and that the produce cultivated here in Hungary must be repurchased after being processed abroad.

The candidate for Minister stressed that at the moment all risks are borne by farmers, who are often forced to sell their produce at below cost price. The risk should be distributed between producers, processors and distributors, he added.

The new Minister’s plans also include doing away with undivided land ownership, which affects some 300 thousand landowners, because this kind of ownership often stands in the way of successful farming.

It is a challenge to inspire young people to place their capabilities at the service of Hungarian agriculture, said Mr. Nagy, according to whom there is no point calling agriculture a key sector while the young are turning away from it.

According to the candidate for Minister, agriculture could be made more attractive to young people through providing better incomes, realising knowledge-based development projects and continuing the transition to dual training. The private sector must also make sacrifices, because various incentives are required, he pointed out.

Handling the problem of African Swine Flu requires major effort, Mr. Nagy stressed, indicating that the epidemic is not endangering bred animal stocks.

One of our goals is to increase the ratio of forested areas from the current 21 percent to 22 percent, he told the Committee.

In reply to a question, Mr. Nagy said the full area of rural development would once again be under the sphere of competence of the Ministry. We wish to meet the challenges that arise within the fields of both rural development and agriculture simultaneously, he added.

With relation to a comment from the Committee’s Co-Chair with relation to the National Food Chain Safety Office (NFCSO), Mr. Nagy agreed that there is a need to further increase capacities.

There can be no question that Hungary will be continuing along the path of GMO-free agriculture, he emphasised.

Committee Chair Sándor Font (Fidesz) said foods with genetically modified ingredients should be sold on separate shelves, thus providing consumers with further assistance in making a choice. Mr. Nagy said he fully agrees with the idea, explaining that his primary goal is to provide for the animal feeds used in animal husbandry, after which he also plans to de with the issue of product distribution.

It would be important to launch a successful framework programme to induce people to once again be motivated to farm their gardens, and they must also be taught how to do so, Mr. Nagy said in reply to questions from the Committee.

The candidate’s appointment as Minister was approved by the Committee with six votes in favour and three abstentions.

(kormany.hu/MTI)