Farmers dismiss Church call to eliminate subsidies
The Irish Bishops Conference Commission for Justice and Social Affairs said that while accepting the validity of direct income supports for farmers that are not related to current production levels or prices, it must be recognised that subsidies in general, and in particular export credits, encourage over-production and dumping. It stated that both of these have the effect of depressing the price of primary products and impoverishing subsistence farmers in the least developed countries.
In the light of this reality, the least that ought to be advocated at the WTO conference in Hong Kong next week is the elimination of all forms of export support, which by definition can only be afforded by wealthier countries or economic blocks such as the US, Japan, and the EU.
It said that while making allowance for special and differential treatment for developing countries, moves should be initiated to eliminate all trade distorting subsidies. The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) general secretary Eddie Punch said the average suckler farmer in Ireland, who earns in the region of €6,000 a year, could not afford to take the massive hit that would result from the elimination of farm subsidies.
“I cannot understand how the Catholic Church, who presumably would have done their research, can advocate these subsidy slashes, knowing that it will lead to the loss of some 50,000 jobs in the Irish agricultural sector, and over 600,000 more across Europe,” he said.
Mr Punch said any further decline in agriculture will decimate rural communities and rural economies.
