CAP reform package positive for organic sector, says Coveney
Mr Coveney was responding to a pre-Christmas Dáil question.
Thomas Pringle, Donegal South–West Independent TD, asked Mr Coveney to outline his plans to use the new CAP measures to increase the area of land in use for organic farming
Mr Coveney said for the first time in the CAP there are provisions to support the conversion to or the maintenance of organic farming practices and methods.
The greening provisions of the direct payments regulation also recognise the important contribution made by organic farming.
He said preparatory work for the next Rural Development Programme is underway in his Department. The question of a new organic scheme is being considered in that context.
An initial consultation process for the programme was launched in 2012, and written submissions were received from more than 80 stakeholders.
A second consultation was held in July, where stakeholders attended a full day workshop, he said.
Mr Coveney said that, based on the outcome of these processes, the drafting of a new programme is being advanced in his Department. Further stakeholder consultation is intended.
Meanwhile, Copa Cogeca, the European umbrella body for farmers and co-ops, has welcomed the EU Farm Ministers’ approval of the CAP reform package.
However, it urged the ministers to ensure that the implementation rules will not add to farmers’ costs or increase red tape.
Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen said the overall reform package is a solution farmers can live with and is a big improvement on what was originally proposed, being more realistic and practical to apply.
“Farmers will still, however, have to do a lot more for less money due to the onerous nature of the greening requirements and environmental services that they have to provide,” said Mr Pesonen.
He urged the Commission not to go beyond the CAP reform deal for some elements of the agreement like greening.
Meanwhile, Mr Coveney and Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin have had a number of recent meetings to discuss the funding for the new RDP.
Mr Coveney said progress has been made and these discussions will continue in the New Year, with a view to the two ministers bringing a joint memorandum to Government in January.
Simultaneously, work is continuing in the Department of Agriculture on designing the schemes to be included in the new RDP.
