April frost damaged one third of expected fruit crop

Slovak fruit producers have lost around a third of their expected crops this year due to frost in the second half of April, with the damage reaching around €8 million, according to the TASR press agency. Fruit Growers Union President Marian Varga expects the Government's help in this situation. The damage will also be translated into fruit prices, which may grow by an estimated 10 percent this year. Slovak Agriculture and Food Chamber Head Milan Semančík, meanwhile, believes that the recurring problems with negative effects of climate phenomena need to be addressed in a systematic way. "We're appealing to the Agriculture Ministry as soon as possible to make the funding of risk governance and refunding of part of insurance premiums a reality," said Semančík. "If we find consensus among all the parties involved in shaping the risk fund, we'll move forward," said Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Gabriela Matečná, adding that further talks with the Finance Ministry, insurers and farmers are needed.