IFA president: Budget needs to prioritise funding for farm schemes
Mr Bryan said: “Farming and the food industry support 300,000 jobs across the economy. The impact of this is felt particularly in the rural economy, with Irish farmers spending almost €8 billion annually on agricultural inputs and living expenses, the majority of which are purchased locally.
“The growth in the agri-food sector seen in 2010 has continued into 2011, with output growth in primary agriculture and food exports far outpacing the rest of the economy. Despite an overall drop in the last quarter, agri-food exports remain strong. However, farming remains a low-income sector, with average farm incomes in 2010 less than €18,000, and tens of thousands of farm families depend on the farm schemes for viability.”
