Sustainable Agriculture Current Issues in Kistelek (Lau1) District of the Southern Great Plain Region of Hungary

Abstract The Kistelek district (LAU1) is located in the Southern Great Plain region and is disadvantaged in terms of social and economic indicators. Agriculture and a declining population are the defining features of the region’s economy. The target group of the questionnaire survey was small and medium-sized farmers operating in the district according to Standard Output (SO). The aim was to explore which natural factors influence their production activities, what strategic steps they take to mitigate these factors, and what their relationship is to organic farming, and whether they see a future for it in Hungary. The research was conducted between 2022 and 2023, during which 91 evaluable responses were received. The study confirms that climate change has a significant impact on the production results of farms, and that the farmers surveyed are not sufficiently prepared for this. The reasons for this include a lack of knowledge and training, as well as financial reasons, as their capital base is often weak, and therefore they show no real willingness to introduce adaptive and ecological practices.