The Beginnings of Agricultural Economics in Hungary – the 225th Anniversary of the “Ordinary Instructions” by Nagyváthy

Abstract

János Nagyváthy (1755-1819) was Director in the Festetics estate between 1792 and 1797, and during this time he wrote his book entitled Ordinary Instructions according to which farming is managed in the estates of the Honorouble count of Tolna, György Festetics, royal chamberlain (Közönséges Instructio a Mltgos Tolnai Gróf Festetits György Királyi Kamarás Urodalmiban gyakoroltatni szokott Gazdaságnak rendjén keresztöl). The work was intended to assist the proper management of the agricultural estate. The main practices of farming had not been put in writing, these were imprinted only in the farm managers’ and bailiffs’ minds, therefore new workers learned these tricks only at the expense of trial and error, so he wrote the Ordinary Instructions to improve this situation. In Nagyváthy’s approach the practical application of theoretical methods played a crucial role, as well as the teaching for farmers and estate bailiffs, stewards, as he wrote: practical experience is a certainty, above all other strengths. Nagyváthy’s working as Director led to the founding of Georgikon in 1797. Through his managerial work and books, he contributed not only to the establishmen of Europe’s first agricultural higher education intitutions, but also to the creating the theory and practice of agricultural economy in Hungary.