‘Too much pessimism’ on agriculture

ICMSA rural development committee’s new chairman John O’Donnell believes farming is still the backbone of the rural economy.

“I believe there is far too much pessimism about the demise of agriculture in Ireland at present,” he said.

He said that given rural Ireland’s huge dependence on the construction sector, and that sector’s almost certain downturn in the years ahead, it is essential to retain a strong agricultural industry to avoid an employment catastrophe in the future.

“We must not forget our largest indigenous industry still remains the agri-food industry,” he said.