Hungary eases AKG and ÖKO subsidy rules to aid drought-hit farmers

Bóna Szabolcs disclosed that Hungary will introduce lenient measures for the Agrár-környezetgazdálkodási (AKG) and Ökológiai gazdálkodás (ÖKO) subsidy calls, responding to severe drought conditions. The changes are designed to enable agricultural operators to satisfy their funding obligations even when crops suffer from lack of water. Notably, drought-related force-majeure events acknowledged by the Magyar Államkincstár will be excluded from the standard three-year disqualification rule for both support streams.

Under the AKG framework, green-manure sowings that could not be completed because of the drought will still be counted as completed, provided the farmer submitted a proper force-majeure application. Detailed guidelines and the revised calls are available on the Common Agricultural Policy portal.