Organic farming scheme to restart in January with revised conditions

THE organic farming scheme is to be reopened subject to the outcome of the Government estimates process.

Last July, the scheme was suspended for new applications, pending the outcome of a review. The review looked at how funds are used to best effect to deliver increased organic production and attain a 5% government growing target — just over 1% of agricultural land in Ireland is currently certified as organic.

Food and Horticulture Minister Trevor Sargent said yesterday it is his intention to re-open the scheme from January with revised conditions.

He said the amount of funding available for the scheme will be determined later in the year when the Government is preparing the estimates for 2010.

Mr Sargent indicated that the conditions will be amended to incorporate completion of an approved training course, as an essential pre-requisite to joining the scheme.

This would be a requirement solely for new applicants who have not previously participated in the Organic Farming supplementary measure of the Rural Environment Protection Scheme.

He said the cost would have to be self-financed by the applicant.

“The submission of a detailed five-year business plan by all new applicants, will also be required as part of the application process. This will facilitate an assessment of the level of farming activity and sustainability of the business,” he said.

Mr Sargent said these criteria will help to identify the applicants most likely to deliver increased organic output nationally.

“In particular it will target support to those operators who intend producing products which suit our climatic and infrastructural conditions and which are presently in deficit,” he said.

Meanwhile, the volume of Irish organic food sales has increased year on year by 13.2%, according to research by An Bord Bia.

A sales value of €124 million was recorded in the year to July 2009, compared to €104m in the year to July 2008.

Fruit, vegetables and dairy products account for the most popular purchased categories.