Farmers will be left ‘high and dry’ by suspension of organic grant aid

GRANT aid to organic farmers is to be suspended by the Department of Agriculture, leaving farmers “high and dry”, according to the Irish Farmers’ Association.

In a surprise move late on Thursday, Minister for Food and Horticulture at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Trevor Sargent announced that the grant aid schemes for the development of the organic sector would be suspended for new applications with effect from yesterday.

Mr Sargent acknowledged that the uptake of the schemes was a sign of their success, but said the organic sector had developed to a point where investment costs could be reflected in the price of produce instead of being externalised.

“My decision to suspend the schemes for new applications is based therefore not only on the current budgetary situation but also on my belief that such organic enterprises are viable commercial operations with a target market that continues to grow. The suspension of the schemes will be reconsidered at the earliest opportunity having regard to the evolving budgetary situation,” he said.

The IFA also attacked Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith’s assertion on RTÉ’s Drivetime programme that he did not accept the claims that average farm income figures were around one- third of public sector earnings.

IFA president Padraig Walshe said: “The facts of the matter are that average family farm incomes in 2008, published this week in the Teagasc National Farm Survey, were just under €17,000. This is one third of the average public sector earnings in 2008 of €50,300.”