Due to increasing fodder and energy prices, the poultry industry is facing additional costs of 30-35% but can only increase its prices by 12-14%, thus the industry is in need of urgent help, Poultry Product council chairman László Bárány said at a conference on Monday.
Some 50-60% of the population of Hungary will be hit hard by the price increases, market research institute GfK Hungária head Ottília Dörnyei commented.
The poultry industry needs subsidies of Ft 10-12 billion, Agriculture Minister József Gráf noted. This year total subsidies to the poultry industry will be Ft 6.7 billion, he added.
The number of poultry processors will be reduced from the existing 55-60 to 4-6 larger operations and 10-12 smaller ones in the coming years, Agriculture research Institute deputy director László Kapronczai said.