Macra chief’s call for agriculture to return to fore of policymaking

AGRICULTURE is the key to economic recovery, the annual Macra na Feirme rally was told at its opening in Bantry, Co Cork, last night.

Macra president Michael Gowing said the economy will only start taking positive steps forward when the agricultural community is returned to its position at the fore of national policies and decision-making and encouraged to fulfil its true potential.

“The cornerstone of this positive momentum has to be the youth taking their rightful place at the head of this industry and in the country as a whole,” he said.

Mr Gowing said the positive energy, enthusiasm and attitude of young people will be on display at the Macra rally and can’t be ignored.

He called on the Government, with the budget fast approaching, to support young farmers who are the economy’s future light.

The latest CSO statistics released, based on 2007 figures, indicate that only 7% of Irish farmers are under the age of 35.

Mr Gowing said commodity prices, the weather and farming to calendar dates are to the fore among the frustrations experienced daily by farmers.

“But we must not lose sight of the biggest hurdle that will affect our future in this sector — the discussions on CAP 2013 onwards have begun.

“I think it is important that a clear message leaves our Macra conference this weekend, to Ireland and indeed to Europe as a whole,” he said.

“It is that the young people who will be farming in 2013 and beyond, are the major stakeholders in all discussions on this topic.”

Mr Gowing said Macra had gone from strength to strength since last year’s rally in Galway, but “the country had gone backwards”.

“With that in mind, I think it is very appropriate that the title of our 2009 national conference is Farming 2020,” he said.