Karahuta: State Should Support Food Production Modernisation Projects

Bratislava, September 7 (TASR) - Slovak farmers and food producers might also benefit in the future from state aid provided to help them modernise their production, thinks Jaroslav Karahuta who chairs House Committee for Agriculture and Environment. Karahuta was responding to criticism from re-elected Slovak Agricultural and Food Chamber (SPPK) President Emil Macho, who had warned about another imminent wave of food price hikes and claimed that it's the only recourse left to Slovak farmers and food producers. Macho bemoaned the fact that the agriculture sector is beleaguered by COVID-19 costs incurred on top of other problems while receiving negligible state support. "Today we're importing 50 percent of bread supply not because we are incapable of producing it, but because we lack the bread bake-off capability that's so fashionable among retail chains these days [a reference to in-store bakery services, where goods come in unbaked or part-baked and are finished off in specialist ovens in-store -ed.note]. Regardless of what we might think of it, it's the latest fad," said Karahuta. "Poultry industry sells eggs to Austria at two or three cents per egg for dried-eggs production. Hence, if we support the acquiring of egg-drying machines, the eggs won't be sold at those few piddling cents abroad but will stay here instead," underlined Karahuta, adding that cooperation will be needed from all parties involved. mf