Hungarian anti‑hail system JÉGER faces farmer backlash

The JÉGER anti‑hail system, launched in 2018 by the Orbán government, uses silver‑iodide generators to disperse ice crystals in clouds and protect crops from hail damage. A civil initiative has gathered about 12,000 farmers, agronomists, meteorologists and business owners demanding a temporary suspension of the system, arguing it has harmed the economy and the environment. Critics say the technology may increase drought risk and that no professional impact study was conducted before deployment. Jobbik deputy Attila Révi called for an immediate halt until a thorough scientific assessment is carried out, while Agriculture Minister Bóna Szabolcs promised a public opinion poll for the petitioners. The debate centers on the system’s financing, legal framework, generator placement and the environmental effects of large‑scale silver‑iodide use.