Federal Minister for Agriculture, Alois Rainer (CSU), has announced several support measures designed to relieve financial pressure on farmers. During interviews with the Funke media group, the CSU politician stated that the fuel discount is an important initial step, and his ministry is actively exploring further ways to assist the farming sector.
Specifically, Minister Rainer mentioned making subsidized loans available through the Agricultural Pension Fund (Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank) and promised support for investing in energy-efficient technologies. He noted that necessary coordinating talks with the EU Commission are already underway, expressing confidence that “we will achieve good solutions in a timely manner”.
Looking ahead, if food prices rise, Rainer advocated for lowering the value-added tax (VAT). He specified that a VAT reduction should be applied to particular products. However, he also stressed that any relief measures must be targeted and financially sustainable.
While pointing out that current food prices remain stable despite concerns over the situation in Iran, the Minister emphasized that the situation is being monitored very closely, particularly because prices have risen significantly in recent years. Acknowledging public anxiety over price movements, Rainer stated that he takes consumer concerns very seriously, though he also noted that the price development remains dependent on the duration of any military conflict.
