Farm and food sector ‘must grow’
Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Minister Éamon Ó Cuiv said so in an address to the Irish Rural Link conference in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim.
He said it was obvious that no matter how much money is invested into developing agriculture, the scope for income increase is limited.
This factor is borne out by the reality that a lot of farmers are seeking off-farm employment.
“Therefore, for farmers in the post-2006 scenario, one has to decide what serves the rural community best, in terms of income increase for both farming and non-farming families.
“It seems clear to me that there are now much greater possibilities for return of investment in jobs for farmers and non-farmers alike in general rural development,” he said.
Mr Ó Cuiv said the Agri-Vision report shows Ireland has 136,000 farmers. By 2015, there will be 105,000. Some 45,000 will be non-viable as farmers and will rely on off-farm income, and 20,000 will be non-viable but will not have the benefit of supplementary off-farm income.
“The future, therefore, is for a core of some 40,000 farmers, who can be called viable.
“The rest will seek to make an adequate income through activities other than farming.”
Mr Ó Cuiv said agriculture and the food industries must be grown and sustained.
