IFA hits out at timing of report

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney projects agri-food exports to grow by €12bn by 2020, but the IFA has criticised the timing of these upbeat predictions given the hardship facing farmers.

Mr Coveney’s annual review and outlook 2011/12 highlighted the sector’s €8.8bn exports performance of 2011, up 12% on 2010 and 25% ahead of 2009 levels.

Mr Coveney said: “The dairy and beverages sub-sectors performed particularly well, with exports from the dairy sector up by some 17%. Some of this growth was in new markets, which is particularly welcome, and dairy exports outside of Europe are estimated to have reached more than €930m in 2011.