The budget of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) from national sources will be next year CZK 24 billion. This was agreed today by Minister of Agriculture Miroslav Toman with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Alena Schiller. Compared to the original draft budget, the Ministry of Agriculture will receive an extra 1 billion crowns. The money will be used to recover forests after bark beetle calamity and water projects to mitigate the effects of drought. 

“With the Minister of Finance, we agreed today to strengthen the planned budget for next year by one billion crowns. This brings us to the budget level for this year. We also agreed that in case of extraordinary events in agriculture we will ask for additional money during the year, if the state budget allows, ”said Minister of Agriculture Miroslav Toman.

Next year, the Ministry of Agriculture should manage a budget of CZK 24 billion from national sources. In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture is looking for further internal savings. Thanks to them, this year, for example, could launch a pilot project of gentle management in the vicinity of the Švihov (Želivka) water reservoir for 60 million crowns or a new program for mechanical liquidation of weeds in sugar beet for 200 million crowns. 

“We want to use the money that we negotiated today to fight bark beetle and restore forests after the disaster. Part of the money will also go to projects to alleviate the effects of drought. Ensuring drinking water for the population and food safety remains our priority. Therefore, I continue to refuse to cut costs for our supervisory authorities, be it the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority or the State Veterinary Administration, ”said Minister Toman.

“Our landscape has long been plagued by bark beetle calamity and lack of water. We have therefore agreed with Minister Toman that we will give more money in the budget for next year to solve these pressing problems, ”said Minister of Finance Alena Schillerová. “More money will go to restoring forests after the bark beetle calamity and water retention measures in the landscape. Especially the construction of small ponds and water reservoirs, ”added the Minister of Finance. 

The Ministry of Agriculture plans the same budget for the national agricultural subsidy titles as this year, ie 3.8 billion crowns. In addition to dealing with drought, water management projects or the situation in forests, money will also go into monitoring food quality or co-financing European projects.