Rural areas commission could be boon for farms, says Teagasc chief

Farm households will be among the main groups to gain jobs under the new commission for the economic development of rural areas, according to one Teagasc executive.

Cathal O’Donoghue, head of the Teagasc rural economy and development programme, has welcomed the creation of the commission, the main aim of which is to generate a jobs strategy for rural Ireland.

Prof O’Donoghue said: “Farm households have been particularly affected by the downturn with the off-farm employment rate of farmers falling back to late 1990s levels. Farm households would thus be one of the main beneficiaries of more jobs in rural areas. On the other hand the Food Harvest 2020 strategy for the agri-food sector has a target to generate 25,000 jobs and thus the sector can make a substantial impact on rural job creation.”