Hungary's Rural Development Ministry does not intend to become a player on the animal-feed market, and intervention purchases would only boost prices further on an already high-priced market, Rural Development Ministry Deputy State Secretary, Zsolt Feldman, told MTI.

Budapest Business Journal reports that, instead, the ministry will launch as soon as possible support schemes already planned in the 2011 budget to improve the liquidity position of animal farmers. Speaking after a consultation regarding the feed market, Mr Feldman commented on a proposal of the Poultry Products Council, published on 9 February, which urged immediate state intervention purchases of 500,000 tonnes of maize in order to prevent domestic shortages stemming from feed exports.

A total of 10 billion florints (HUF) in retroactive 2010 financing is available for animal welfare support, including HUF6 billion for hogs and HUF4 billion for poultry, Mr Feldman said. HUF7 billion is earmarked for the prevention of animal diseases and another HUF2.5 billion for the disposal of animal carcasses, again including the retroactive payment of support suspended last year.

Representatives of the Association of Grain Processors, Feed producers and Traders and those of the Animal for Slaughter and Meat Products Council and of the Poultry Products Council participated in the Wednesday consultations.

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