Farmers march cows in Budapest protesting foreign milk imports, low prices

Record ID: 102102

  • Title: Farmers march cows in Budapest protesting foreign milk imports, low prices
  • Date: 23rd May 2016
  • Summary: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (MAY 23, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FARMERS LEADING COW OUT OF VAN COW MOOING (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) FARMER, SZABOLCS VIGH, SAYING: "The situation for us is that we produce one kilogram of milk for the cost of 105 forints (0.33 euro) and we only get paid 65 forints (0.20 euro) for (one kilogram) of fresh milk." VARIOUS OF FARMERS MARCHING WITH THEIR COWS ALONG DANUBE EMBANKMENT FARMERS HOLDING BANNER READING (Hungarian): 'DRINK HUNGARIAN MILK' FARMERS MARCHING WITH BANNERS VARIOUS OF FARMERS MARCHING WITH COWS AND BANNERS (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) FARMER LAJOS SZEMAN, SAYING: "We would like to see at least that less milk is imported, so that we can sell our own milk at a normal price and cover the costs of food, medicine, etc." FARMERS LEADING COWS (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) FARMER LAJOS SZEMAN, SAYING: "If this continues it will not be worth keeping cows, many dairies will close down. We can hang on a little bit longer but not much more." VARIOUS OF FARMERS MARCHING WITH COWS PAST PARLIAMENT FARMERS MARCHING TO PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE PROTEST ORGANISER SPEAKING THROUGH MEGAPHONE (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) UNIDENTIFIED PROTEST ORGANISER, SAYING: "We want decent purchase prices, we don't want aid but decent prices. This is only possible if this enormous amount of imported milk is somehow stopped." FARMERS LISTENING WITH THEIR COWS FARMER STROKING COW
  • Embargoed: 7th June 2016 15:15
  • Keywords: cows protest farmers
  • Location: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
  • City: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
  • Country: Hungary
  • Topics: Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014J14O55
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Dairy farmers from across Hungary took their cows to the streets of Budapest on Monday (May 23) in protest against low milk prices which they blame on foreign imports.
    Farmers say that the current VAT tax system favours cheap imports and allows evasion, endangering their livelihood and threatening to drive them out of business.
    "The situation for us is that we produce one kilogram of milk for the cost of 105 forints (0.33 euro) and we only get paid 65 forints (0.20 euro) for (one kilogram) of fresh milk," farmer Szabolcs Vigh said.
    "We would like to see at least that less milk is imported, so that we can sell our own milk at a normal price and cover the costs of food, medicine, etc," another farmer, Lajos Szeman, said.
    "If this continues it will not be worth keeping cows, many dairies will close down. We can hang on a little bit longer but now much more," Szeman added.
    Farmers led about 50 cows along the embankment past parliament to the prime minister's office holding banners saying: 'Drink Hungarian milk', and 'Imports threatens tens of thousands of jobs'.
    The Hungarian dairy sector makes up around 7% of the country's total agriculture, employing over 25,000 people, according to data from 2014. Recently Hungarian VAT on fresh milk was cut to 5% but dairy farmers say the cut should affect all types of milk.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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