Labour calls for home production of vegetables to be encouraged

THE time has come for the Government to take a positive step towards encouraging the home production of vegetables.

Labour spokesperson on agriculture and food, Sean Sherlock TD, who made the call, said more than 100 years ago the then Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction appointed an horticultural adviser-instructor to every county to encourage the growing of fruit and vegetables for home consumption.

“Generations have passed since and people nowadays, more than ever, need training, instruction and guidance to produce their own produce.

“Most of the present generation have no land and few have the required know-how,” he said.

Mr Sherlock said given our climate and the quality of land in most parts of the country, there should be no shortage of good fresh fruit and vegetables from April/May to October /November each year.

More local authorities should provide allotments where people could grow their own produce, he said.

Mr Sherlock said in situations where local authorities have no land of their own, land intended for building in years from now, Mr Sherlock said the growing of short-term willows and poplars for fuel should also be encouraged as a way of lessening the carbon footprint.

“Even the person with a small front garden could grow a few trees that could be cut down after 10-12 years for the fire should be encouraged. It does not have to be on a forest scale,” Mr Sherlock said.