Federal Council wants almost CHF 14 billion for agriculture
Published: Wednesday, Jun 19th 2024, 12:00
Volver a Live Feed
Farmers are to be supported with around CHF 13.8 billion in federal funding from 2026 to 2029. This is CHF 230 million or 1.6% less than in the current period.
The Federal Council adopted this agricultural payment framework on Wednesday. Parliament will decide on it.
In the original federal resolution, the state government wanted to reduce funding by a total of 2.5% compared to the period from 2022 to 2025. It is now proposing more funding for adapting agricultural production to climate-related challenges. The funds for agricultural structural improvements are to be increased by CHF 86 million, while those for the breeding of disease-resistant crops and varieties and for sustainable plant protection are to be increased by CHF 24 million.
The aim is to improve the resilience of the food supply and food security in the long term, according to the Federal Council. These are also key concerns of Parliament and the Federal Council for the further development of agricultural policy from 2030 (AP30+).
Federal Council wants to maintain internal compensation
However, according to the Federal Council, the increases should continue to be compensated for within the agricultural payment framework. It intends to make the necessary funds available through reallocations - due to the strained situation of federal finances.
According to the published message, agriculture must also make a contribution to reducing the burden on the ordinary budget by around two billion francs and to complying with the debt brake.
A majority of respondents rejected this in the consultation process - for example, the Swiss Farmers' Union (SBV), the FDP and the SVP. The two conservative parties called for the payment framework to be maintained from 2022 to 2025, while the SP and the Greens also rejected savings measures in direct payments. The additional funds for structural improvements were also viewed critically by the SP, the Greens and the Environmental Alliance.
"Large majority" support for the thrust
The content of the payment framework for the years 2026 to 2029 was meanwhile supported by a "large majority", the Federal Council went on to say. According to the Federal Council, the majority of the funds in the payment framework up to 2029 will continue to be allocated to direct payments at almost CHF 11 billion. Around CHF 2.1 billion is earmarked for production and sales and CHF 690 million for the production bases.
In particular, the planned increase in funding for agricultural structural improvements was expressly welcomed by the Swiss Association for Mountain Regions (SAB). According to a press release, these measures are of crucial importance for mountain and alpine farming in particular.
©Keystone/SDA
Spanish 
English 
German 
French 
Arabic