YOUNG FARMERS’ SUSTAINABILITY PERSPECTIVE IN HUNGARY

In the European Union, the proportion of people employed in agriculture is continuously decreasing. In Poland, nearly 15% of the actively employed population work in the sectors of agriculture, forestry and fishery, which is well above the European average of around 5%. This ratio is 5.1% in Hungary. Besides the decrease of the percentage of people employed in agriculture, a low proportion of young farmers can also be observed. In order to ensure alignment with the strategy Europe 2020: smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, the pillar of rural development of the Common Agricultural Policy will be based on six priorities in the fields of agriculture, forestry and food processing. Apart from achieving these goals, young agricultural producers will be performing a prominent role as the engagement of young people in the agrarian sector is indispensable for the future of the sector. In my study, I examined the various reasons why young agricultural producers had started agricultural activities, and to what extent they consider it their key task to make agriculture sustainable and to protect the land and their environment