IFA says 10-year targets must be set

THE next government must clearly set out its commitments to farming for the next 10 years, the Irish Farmers Association president Padraig Walshe said yesterday.

Launching the IFA policy submission to the political parties and Dáil candid- ates, Mr Walshe said the IFA objective is to achieve an environment where agriculture can play its full role in the national economy, based on profitable farm businesses producing high quality, safe food and contributing to the economic and social life of rural regions.

Mr Walshe said: “The new Government must be committed to continue defending Irish and EU agriculture in the WTO, to negotiating an adequate EU budget for post-2013, and protection of the EU direct payments system.”

Mr Walshe said farmers need a commitment to the removal of bureaucracy and red tape by the Department of Agriculture and Food in relation to the Single Farm Payment and other farm schemes.

He said: “Competitive farm production must be supported, through measures to improve scale and efficiency. Farmers deserve a fair deal in the food marketing chain against the economic power of retail multiples.”

Among other policy issues raised, Mr Walshe said the workforce in farming, including spouses working on farms, deserve pension security for the future by having comprehensive cover for PRSI pensions.