BUDAPEST, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Hungary cannot accept the planned reduction of farm subsidies in the next budgetary cycle of the European Union (EU), according officials sources here on Friday.
Zsolt Feldman, state minister for agriculture, declared that the current budget draft of the EU for the 2021-2027 period would mean a reduction in farm subsidies to Hungary of about two billion euros per year. Feldman was quoted by the Hungarian government's official website.
He added that between 2008 and 2018 - in large part due to the subsidies Hungary received within the framework of the EU's common agricultural policy (CAP), the output of the Hungarian agricultural sector has grown the fastest among all EU members and its exports have doubled.
Feldman also said that farmers' associations were gathering signatures against the planned budgetary cuts and were looking for allies and support from other countries in their lobbying against the changes.
EU subsidies are especially important for Hungary, as the country faces a severe period of drought since at least eight months, and will have to rely on imports from Russia and Ukraine regarding corn and wheat.
The production of these cereals this year is likely to decrease by at least 10 percent compared to 2018. (1 euro = 1.12 U.S. dollars)
