Premier: Slovak Agriculture Facing Severe Drought and Dairy Crisis

Dolna Krupa, 9 June (TASR) - Slovakia's agriculture is facing two major challenges, namely severe drought and a dairy crisis, said Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) in a speech at the opening of the 15th annual National Field Days in the village of Dolna Krupa (Trnava region) on Tuesday. The premier said that the Agriculture Ministry must take all necessary measures to mitigate the impact of drought. He stressed the need for the ministry to make all possible legal concessions to farmers in the areas of subsidies and support in the wake of the current drought. "The legislative framework allows for this," he noted. He also pointed to the possibility of increasing the allocation of money to calls related to irrigation systems. "It is right that the government has turned to the European Union regarding the use of the EU reserve fund," added the premier. Fico also spoke about an ambition for agricultural policy to become a separate chapter within the upcoming EU budget. "We're definitely against capping direct payments themselves, we reject this and, in particular, we'd like to remind the European Union and the European Commission of the fact that Slovakia is built on larger farms and larger units," he said. He plans to appeal to the Visegrad Four countries (V4 - Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland) to take up a joint position on agricultural policy. Agriculture Minister Richard Takac (Smer-SD) pointed to the premier's assurance that consolidation won't affect the state aid scheme within the farming sector. "Every year, funds amounting to €60-70 million are available for the sector in the budget," he noted. He highlighted the drawing of funds from the Rural Development Programme and reiterated information about the announcement of further calls from the Strategic Plan. The National Field Days exhibition covers a total area of 32 hectares. The programme began on Tuesday and will continue on Wednesday (10 June). A total of 47 companies are showcasing crop varieties, plant nutrition products and crop protection solutions. "[A total of] 720 demonstration plots have been sown on the exhibition field, which we have been arranging since last year, and these plots feature 540 varieties," the event's head manager Peter Hudec has told TASR. Agricultural machinery and other products are being presented by 118 companies. ko/df