Spiralling costs and falling prices put Irish farmers in high risk EU category

FARMERS have been identified at EU level as “high risk“, requiring aid schemes of this kind, because of the substantial changes taking place in the agriculture sector generally, and the high levels of dependence on agriculture and agri-food in certain areas.

Globalisation and CAP reform are having major effects on the areas of Ireland, Wales and Sweden taking part in the sis “Harnessing Rural Capital” programme.

In North Cork, the number of people employed in agriculture is now less than 5,000, having fallen more than 26% since 1996 — which represents the largest single economic change in Ireland since industrialisation.