Hungary unveils US$7m pig breeding programme

Czerván, who is responsible for agricultural economy at the Hungarian ministry, told local news agency MTI that the government programme is aiming to double the country’s pig population from the current three million head to six million head over the next six years.

The deputy minister said the programme will help Hungarian pig meat industry market its products, finance development of domestic genetic bases, create various quality assurance systems and organise marketing initiatives focused on promoting domestically produced pork meat, the minister said. The programme will also promote the breeding of Mangalica pigs, Czerván said. The quality assurance activities will aim to increase the visibility of Hungarian pork products.

Last year, the Hungarian ministry inked an agreement with the National Association of Mangalica Breeders (MOE) to promote the breed and develop a wide range of origin-tracking and quality assurance tools. Under the deal, the ministry provided some HUF110m (US$500,000) to the MOE, and a similar amount is expected to be allocated for the project in 2014.

Péter Tóth, head of the industry association, told MTI that the 170 members of the association own 8,000 sows and breed between 50,000 and 60,000 Mangalica pigs per year, which represents about 2% of the country’s pig population.

Earlier this year, Hungary decreased the value added tax (VAT) on live pigs and half carcases from 27% to 5% with the aim of combating illegal trade and stimulating pig meat consumption. Last year, Hungarian Minister of Rural Development Sandor Fazekas announced plans to increase consumption of pork in the country by 12% in 2014.