Agriculture minister to ask European Commission for aid over frost damage

Agriculture Minister Martin Šebestyán (nominated by SPD) will ask European Commissioner for Agriculture Christophe Hansen to make use of all available aid instruments in response to the damage caused to Czech farmers by this year’s frosts.

The Fruit Growers’ Union said on Tuesday that April frosts destroyed half of this year’s fruit harvest in Czech orchards. Damage is expected to amount to several hundred million crowns.

The ministry followed a similar procedure two years ago, when April frosts caused the lowest harvest in the past 100 years, with damages estimated at around CZK 1.3 billion. After the 2024 frosts, Czechia received more than CZK 400 million from the EU.

Spring frosts threaten fruit harvests in Czechia every year. In addition to 2024, growers suffered frost damage in 2019, 2017, 2016 and 2011. Besides apples, significant losses are also anticipated in cherry and peach harvests this year.