“Animal husbandry is one of the determining sectors of Hungarian agriculture, and accordingly the development of animal husbandry and restoring the balance between animal husbandry and crop production is being given a leading role in the Government’s agriculture policy”, the Ministry of Agriculture’s Parliamentary State Secretary said at an event in Hajdúnánási.
“We are striving to provide the highest possible funding for livestock framers”, István Nagy stressed, pointing out that during the 2015-2020 European programming period the animal husbandry sector is receiving 180 billion euros in additional funding compared to the previous period.
With regard to the “More Jobs in Agriculture” programme, the State Secretary said that the national budget was providing some 30 billion forints (EUR 96M) in additional funding each year until 2020 for the animal husbandry sector and other labour intensive fields of agriculture.
Mr. Nagy also told reporters that funding for animal husbandry tasks plays a significant role in the realisation of national breeding programmes (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, small animals, horses), and in supporting Hungarian livestock breeds and improving their genetic quality. 1.3 billion forints are available in 2017, which breeding organisations can spend on registration, performance testing and breeding value assessment.
The State Secretary emphasised that our protected autochthonous and endangered agricultural livestock breeds are particularly important, and in addition to their role as a genetic reserve these breeds are linked to specific areas, regions, cultural circles and parts of the population, and encapsulate the traditions of natural livestock farming.