Hungary will prevent the import of Ukrainian grain

The State Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture of Hungary said that the government is taking measures to prevent the import of Ukrainian grain, which threatens markets.

At the Grain Production Symposium, Imre Hubái stressed that self-sufficiency is key and agricultural policy is subordinate to this goal. He noted that Ukrainian grain has destroyed local farmers’ markets in recent years, in particular due to the free trade agreement with the EU in 2022. Hubái stressed that importing such products is not in Hungary’s interests.

He also reported that spring frosts have damaged crops on 13 thousand hectares, and the drought is harming ecosystems and the economy. The government has allocated 4.7 billion forints for the Drought Protection Action Plan to provide 150-200 million cubic meters of water for the fields. The Ministry supports farmers by providing water to protect against drought.

F. Sándor Kovács noted that despite the difficult conditions, farmers remain optimistic. Gábor Fazekás stressed the importance of innovation in the face of climate change and competition. Tibor Szépesi emphasized that grain production is a matter of national security, and Zoltan Szatmáry announced the opening of a bulgur factory by the end of the year.

Tags: Ukraine, grain, wheat, Hungary, restrictions