Farmers have paid a high price for cheaper food
Over the next few weeks, consumers’ attention will be drawn to these changes in the cost of what’s in their shopping basket over the past three decades since Ireland became a member of the EU.
The awareness programme is being undertaken in a joint venture between the EU and Agri-Aware, to sell the message that the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) — perceived by many as a payout system for farmers — has brought cheaper food to consumers. Food is significantly cheaper in 2005 than it was in 1973 — that’s a fact. The reason: food prices have not increased as much as wages.
Lamb chops are now “earned” in 41 minutes, compared to one hour and 29 minutes 30 years ago. It took three times longer to earn the price of a pound of butter, and twice the time to earn the price of a loaf of bread, a dozen eggs, or a kilogram of sugar.
Agri-Aware has previously highlighted that food is cheaper as part of their work to highlight the farmers’ role in the economy.
However, Agri-Aware should not miss the opportunity to equally make consumers aware of how farmers themselves have contributed to cheaper food by accepting lower prices — and lower incomes — from the marketplace.
Farm incomes, including CAP payments, have fallen well behind average Irish incomes.
