IFA wants trend of cuts to schemes reversed

With details of Budget 2014 to be announced in eight days’ time, the IFA’s campaign has emphasised to ministers and Government TDs the importance of investment in farm schemes and 50:50 co-financing for the next Rural Development Programme, which will run from 2014-2020.

IFA wants to see a reversal of the trend in recent budgets of cuts to farm schemes. The focus for Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney must be on new investment for the sector. Our clear message is that every euro spent is good value for money and a major stimulus to jobs, exports and the economy.

Despite a difficult economic environment in our main export markets, there has been an increase in food exports of 8% during the first half of 2013. The minister must hammer home this message around the Cabinet table. Underpinning this growth is a primary agriculture sector that is delivering a high quality, sustainable raw material to the food sector.