Cowen: Agri-sector can create 4,000 jobs in 10 years

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen believes 4,000 jobs could be created over the next 10 years under ambitious plans for agriculture, fisheries and forestry.

Mr Cowen referred to the job creation prospects when he launched the Food Harvest 2020 strategy at the Department of Agriculture’s laboratory complex in Backweston, Co Kildare.

“At a time perhaps in the last decade when we’ve seen employment reduced by 1,500 in the agri-food sector, we see the prospect of 3,500 to 4,000 jobs being created by 2020 under these plans,” he said.