FG wants action on farm incomes

Ireland: Fine Gael has called for a commission on agriculture to tackle falling farm incomes following the publication of quarterly figures

The party’s agriculture and food spokesperson Billy Timmins, TD, said the CSO accounts confirm GDP for agriculture, forestry and fisheries is down by 15% in the last quarter of 2002 compared to the same period in 2001. In contrast, GDP as a whole increased by about 6%.

“Agriculture income has fallen from €650m to €552m at a time when farming costs are soaring.