Minister: Train part-time farmers

MEETING the education and training needs of part-time farmers is a significant challenge, Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister Mary Coughlan declared yesterday.

She was speaking in Dublin before she presented the FBD- sponsored Teagasc Student of the Year Award to 20-year-old Eoin Kerr, Edenane, Ballybay, Co Monaghan, Ballyhaise, Agricultural College.

The first runner-up was Peter Fogarty, Kilpatrick, Castletown, Gorey, Co Wexford (Kildalton Agricultural College) and the second runner up was William Doogan, Kildoney, Ballyshannon, Co Donegal (Letterkenny Advisory and Training Centre).

Minister Coughlan said part-time farmers require the same high standard of training as full-time farmers but need this to be delivered in a flexible manner.

She said she was pleased that Teagasc is delivering the advanced certificate in agriculture at 14 locations around the country at night and weekends, so as to facilitate part-time farmers.

Teagasc director Professor Gerry Boyle said Teagasc is continuously evaluating its education programmes to ensure they meet the needs of the farmers of the future.

“We have looked at the course content to ensure it equips the students of today and the farmers of tomorrow and we are looking to prioritise the capital invested in our education facilities in the future,” he said.