Higgins: Young farmers to play central role in recovery
That is according to President Michael D Higgins, who said farmers have always played an important role in providing for the home market as well as being able to conquer markets overseas.
“Irish beef, lamb, and dairy have a well-established reputation internationally. Our agri-food sector, which last year exceeded €9.2bn in exports and supports some 300,000 people in employment, has a central part to play in the long-term economic recovery that our people are working hard to achieve,” he said.
President Higgins pointed out that the age structures of the farming population is an issue that need to be addressed, as only 6% of farmers are under the age of 35. Some 51.4% of family farm-holders are over 55 and 28.3% are over the retirement age of 65.
“Currently, many young farmers who want to take up farming and are fully qualified to do so cannot find land. Very little farmland, less than 0.5% per annum, is sold in Ireland in any given year. Hence the great value of the various forms of collaborative farming — whether registered partnerships, long-term leases or share farming — supported by Macra na Feirme, who encourage older farmers to allow younger farmers to come in and share their enthusiasm and skills.”
President Higgins expressed “great hope” at recent CAO statistics that show demand for third-level places in agriculture and food courses have experienced the steepest rise of all courses this year.
“More and more young Irish people, including students from non-farming backgrounds, are showing an interest in rural issues and farming life. There is also great inspiration to be found in the sense of solidarity and capacity to organise themselves which farmers so often demonstrate, such as during the recent fodder shortage,” he said.
The championships, which are over 70 years in existence, are the largest annual outdoor event in Ireland, with over 200,000 people expected to attend over the three days.
A UCD study carried out in 2011 found that visitors to the championships spent just under €36.5m at that year’s event. This resulted in a tax take of over €6.6m for the exchequer.
Last year, some 187,000 people attended the championships, making it the largest show of its kind in Europe. Organisers said trade inquiries have exceeded all previous years with almost 1,400 exhibitors taking stands.
