New Hungary Rural Development Programme NHRDP.

The New Hungary Rural Development Programme is the National Rural Development Programme prepared for the 2007-2013 period pursuant to Art. 15 (1) of Council Regulation (EC) 1698/2005 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, to be officially submitted by Hungary to the European Commission after its adoption by the Government. With respect to the identified needs and development potentials, and further in view of Community priorities, Hungary has defined its national priorities in agriculture and rural development as follows: The overarching national priority, in line with the Community Strategic Guidelines and the general objective is the following: “Improving outlets for arable production by modernising the livestock and processing sector and diversification into energy crops and horticulture.” 4.1 As set in the Community Strategic Guidelines, support in the area of rural development has to contribute to the key community priorities, to other measures defined for cohesion and environment and furthermore to the implementation of the CAP reforms.
The measures set in the “New Hungary” Rural Development Programme resulting from the Community Strategic Guidelines are widely coherent and divided as follows: Axis I: Improving the competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry sector; Axis II: Improving the environment and the countryside; Axis III: Quality of life in rural areas and diversification of the rural economy; Axis IV: LEADER; 4.1.1. Agriculture, forestry and food processing. The competitiveness of agriculture and food processing and the retention and the possible extension of the markets must be encouraged, therefore, it is justified to convert the system of investment and development supports. It is of essential importance that the supports give preference to innovation, developments, high quality production, energy and cost saving, protection of the environment and to establishing the conditions for animal welfare. The aim of the support of infrastructural projects related to the development and modernization of agriculture and forestry is to promote the development and modernization of the technical conditions of forestry, to protect the soil of forests, to build structures that help to control the water balance of soils as well as to promote the implementation of forest schools and private forest information centres. Competitiveness of agriculture and food processing and the maintenance of markets should be promoted by investments. It is fundamental that the supports should give preference to innovation, high quality production, the application of energy and cost-saving methods, the protection of the environment.