The programme of this year's National Agriculture and Food Exhibition (OMÉK), including amongst others livestock shows, presentations by various food industry businesses, and professional forums, has shown that Hungarian agriculture and the Hungarian food industry has moved in the direction of quality production and the greatest possible added value – said Minister for Rural Development Sándor Fazekas on Sunday, during the presentation of the OMÉK's Special Ministerial Award and People's Choice Award.

The 75th National Agriculture and Food Exhibition (OMÉK) attracted intense interest. Over the course of five days, close to 90 thousand people attended the event, where more that 500 exhibitors presented their products. The total value of trade and transactions agreed on at the exhibition exceeded 1 billion forints. Sándor Fazekas likened the quality of the OMÉK to that of international exhibitions and called it a celebration of agriculture.

Visitors to the OMÉK have never before been presented with such a large exhibition of livestock; 1000 autochthonous animals were on show at the Kincsem Park alone. The exhibition of agricultural machinery also broke all previous records: the latest mechanical appliances were on show over an area of 14 thousand square metres. The Minister for Rural Development presented trophies and awards on the closing day of the exhibition.

Success can be achieved through healthy and pure Hungarian foods – announced the Minister for Rural Development at the award ceremony held on the final day of the exhibition.
He added: rural Hungary wants to survive and the 75th OMÉK has proven that rural Hungary certainly can survive. In Sándor Fazekas's words: we trust in the future of the Hungarian countryside and of Hungarian agriculture. Invoking the words of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at the opening ceremony, the Minister stated: Hungary is an agricultural nation, the agrarian sector is one of the mainstays of the economy.

The Minister for Rural Development emphasised as goals the reinforcement of family farms and the facilitation of their competitiveness, as well as the launching of the demographic land programme, which will place young people in an advantageous position. Sándor Fazekas announced that the Ministry is doing everything in its power to serve the advancement of local production, local distribution and local communities.

Highly important professional work took place during the five days of the OMÉK; meetings were held and contracts were signed. With regard to the results, the Minister recalled the cooperation that has come about between the Carpathian Basin Rural Development Forum, the Ministry of Rural Development and the Dairy Board, as well as the Hungarian-Algerian agricultural agreement.

On the final day of the 75th OMÉK, Sándor Fazekas presented prizes. The Ministerial Special Award was won by Imre Szpisják (from Kenderes), with his 560 kilogram ISV Pannonhybrid porker:

The Bábolna Hús meat-processing company's one-year-old aged ham received a Ministerial Certificate (Tibor Debreczeni, entrepreneur):

The OMÉK People's Choice Award was presented to the Zsindelyes Pálinkafőzde Kft. pálinka distillery:

Later, Sándor Fazekas presented trophies at the Kincsem Park to the winners of two races, the OMÉK Saint László Trophy - for promising two-year-olds -, and the OMÉK Hungarian St. Leger. The Saint László Trophy was won by Lake Louise (Farádi stable):

The Hungarian St. Leger Trophy was presented to Ostinato (A36 stable):

The National Agriculture and Food Exhibition boasts a two-hundred year history and is Hungary's largest and most prestigious agricultural exhibition.

Extremely popular at the 75th OMÉK were the numerous stands presenting the varied work and products of the arts and crafts industry and gastronomy, the animal nurseries, concerts and old-timer tractors, as well as the educational stall of the wine production authority.

(Press Office of the Ministry of Rural Development, Photos: Ernő Horváth)