Hungarian Agricultural Tour

Auburn, Aug 7---Eight Hungarian officials, including the nation’s former minister of agriculture, recently got a firsthand introduction to Alabama agriculture, compliments of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and the Auburn University College of Agriculture.

The study tour is the outgrowth of a cooperative relationship between Auburn University and the University of West Hungary begun in 1993, says George Young, Extension coordinator for international programs and Auburn University professor of agricultural economics.

Members of the Hungarian delegation, pictured left to right: Frigyes NAGY, University of West Hungary professor and former Hungarian agricultural minister, Agota Kocsisne Andrasik, chief manager of the Kisalfold Foundation for Enterprise Promotion, Janos Wagner, president of the Kisalfold Foundation for Enterprise Promotion, Istvan Rako, head clerk at the Kisalfold Foundation for Enterprise Promotion, Janos Ivancsics, deputy chief manager of the Kisalfold Foundation for Enterprise Promotion, Imre Tell, University of West Hungary associated professor, Tamas Kovacs, University of West Hungary agricultural lecturer, Matyas Goda, University of West Hungary agricultural lecturer and Janos Fabian, a Hungarian doctoral student who will receive his Ph.D from Auburn University in animal science and nutrition in December.

Since 1993, five delegations have conducted farm tours of Alabama. In addition, 30 Hungarian students have conducted their required six-month agricultural internship in Alabama.

Young says this cooperative relationship has afforded both groups from this formerly communist country a better understanding of the challenges and demands of the American farm economy. The insights they have gained from these trips, he believes, have also enabled them to "further their transition from a centrally planned economy to one that is market driven."

The delegation, comprised of agricultural university representatives and economic development specialists, met with administrators and faculty with the Extension System and College of Agriculture as well as with officials of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industry.

They also toured numerous Alabama farms and agribusinesses, "appreciating all of what they saw and did," Young recalls.

The Hungarians have invited a delegation of Alabama agricultural leaders, farmers and agribusiness professionals to tour Hungary in 2002.

Alabamians already have conducted five such tours in Hungary since 1993, Young says, stressing that those who have taken part have "always given outstanding ratings on the experiences they’ve gained from the tour."

Young invites anyone interested in participating in next year’s tour to contact him at Room 100, Comer Hall, Auburn University, AL 36849, or telephoned at (334) 844-3513.

(Source: George Young, Extension agricultural economist and international programs coordinator, 334-844-3513.)