“Cooperation between the two countries is based on traditionally good intergovernmental relations”, Deputy State Secretary Katalin Tóth said in Topolya (Bačka Topola) at the opening ceremony of the regional Agriculture and Farming Expo.
“Hungary is a committed partner in supporting Serbia’s earliest possible membership of the European Union. Hungary is providing all possible assistance in the interests of facilitating the successful completion of a new chapter of negotiations between the EU and Serbia”, the Deputy State Secretary said in her speech.
“It is particularly important that Hungarian representation in the Serbian Government via the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (VMSZ) is expected to gain important positions such as the post of the Minister of State for Agriculture, as a result of which agrarian relations between the two countries may improve further”, she continued. Ms. Tóth declared that joint thinking could begin within several fields and the Ministry of Agriculture would continue to provide all possible assistance towards the performance of the required legislative and institution development tasks in the interests of enabling people who make a living from agriculture and related sectors to remain in the land of their birth.
One of the priority areas of the economic development programme launched by the Hungarian Government is agriculture, in view of the excellent opportunities afforded by the agrarian sector. The sector nevertheless faces several challenges, to which we must find suitable solutions together, she said, stressing the importance of innovative opportunities, competitiveness, vocational training and higher education, as well as problems relating to assuring the next generation of farmers.
By representing local values and interests the Ministry’s cooperative partner, the Vojvodina Alliance of Agrarian Associations, does much to ensure that Hungarian farmers in Vojvodina have access to the required information and funding, which is the basis of economic development within the region.
“The Ministry of Agriculture has provided funding for several of the organisation’s programmes aimed at preparing agricultural businesses for the challenges of the modern age. In accordance with previous practices the Ministry continues to place heightened emphasis on supporting young farmers with innovative ideas within the Carpathian Basin. The Ministry of Agriculture has already provided funding for several projects by young farmers aimed at realising sustainable, competitive, ‘bottom up’ development that relies on exploiting the region’s excellent capabilities”, the Deputy State Secretary said.
Mr. Tóth said that instead of traditional, less competitive forms of self-subsistent family farming she believes support must be provided to young, dynamic, modern enterprises that are suitably innovative, have the ability to reflect on new sectoral challenges (ecological farming, horticulture, small animal breeding, the cultivation of medicinal plants), and who are open to knowledge transfer, forging new relationships and developing networks. She also highlighted the “Falugazdász” farming advice programme through which farmers can access indispensable farming information and tender opportunities via the Vojvodina Alliance of Agrarian Associations.
“These measures contribute to preserving the identity of Hungarians in Vojvodina, helping them make a living in the land of their birth and reducing emigration”, the Deputy State Secretary said in closing.