Hungary's agriculture ministry tackles drought‑driven feed shortage amid postponed melon growers protest

The Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture and Food (AÉM) convened a meeting with the main farmers’ organisations – MAGOSZ, MOSZ and the National Agricultural Chamber (NAK) – to discuss the severe feed shortage caused by drought. Representatives reported harvest yields 30‑50 % below average in many regions and highlighted uneven stock levels. The ministry has begun a nationwide inventory, is assessing state‑owned land for possible grazing, and is preparing legislation to reduce road‑toll costs for feed transport, potentially extending benefits to hauliers. It is also exploring logistics cost reductions and, with the foreign trade attaché, checking feed supplies in neighbouring countries for possible imports.

Separately, the Hungarian Melon Growers Association announced it will postpone a planned protest, citing confidence that ongoing negotiations will resolve market disruptions. The growers had previously complained that major retailers were selling melons below 160 HUF per kilogram, ignoring the association’s partnership proposals. They emphasized the need for coordinated action against what they described as “extremely negative market behaviour” to safeguard producers’ livelihoods.