The cabinet has authorised Agriculture Minister József Gráf to negotiate with relevant ministries and interest protection groups.

Hungary will seek an extension to 2014 to protect Hungarian farmers from speculation and speculators, Szollár added. The current moratorium ends on April 30, 2011.

The average smallholding in Hungary is nine hectares, while agricultural companies have 264 hectares, on average.

Some 75% of the arable land in Hungary is owned by small farmers.

Slovakia announced last week that it will also seek an extension of the moratorium in that country."

Source: Hungary Around the Clock.

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