Commissioner Hansen: Slovakia above EU Average as to Number of Young Farmers

Bratislava, 28 November (TASR) - Around 20 percent of farmers in Slovakia are under the age of 40, which is well above the European Union (EU) average, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen told a press conference on Friday following a meeting with representatives of the Agriculture Ministry, adding that supporting young farmers and inter-generational exchanges on farms is very important for maintaining food production. "The EU average is less than 12 percent, so Slovakia is already in a better position than other countries in this regard," said Hansen, noting that 6 percent of funds should be allocated to support young farmers in the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2027. However, according to Hansen, young farmers also need other forms of assistance. One of these is easier access to investment financing. "I say that we should increase support for young farmers from the CAP. Yes, financial support is important, but at the same time we need to look at how to facilitate access to finance for young people," he stressed, adding that he's in talks with the European Investment Bank about the possibility of guarantees for young farmers, which would enable them to obtain favourable terms when taking out loans. According to the European Commissioner, working in agriculture could also be made more attractive, for example, by a relief service for young farmers. This would allow them to set aside free time for rest. According to Hansen, this idea still needs to be thought through in terms of how it could be implemented. am/df