export diversification, alternative product, mushroom
Abstract
The structure of the Hungarian agriculture should be changed before the EU accession. The new structure
should fill the requirements of the EU and beside this it should produce competitive products. Unconventional
products (mushroom, fish, honey etc.) have a lot of advantages: they can be produced in small farms, their
trade is mainly free of regulations and their market is almost unlimited. This paper deals with one of these
alternative agricultural enterprises, namely mushroom production. The Hungarian mushroom production – in
spite of difficulties – has witnessed a remarkable expansion: it increased its production fourfold and its export
fivefold in less than ten years. The low level of wages gives a significant advantage to Hungary against its
competitors. If we could secure the appropriate background (technical advice, bank loans, etc.) the mushroom
industry would become one of the most profitable sector of the Hungarian agriculture.
