Report says Teagasc needs more advisers
The Teagasc strategic pathways plan 2015-2020 was launched in Dublin by European Union Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan.
It notes that the Teagasc advisory service has achieved huge efficiency in recent years, reducing staffing by 44% while maintaining client numbers and providing quality services to over 43,000 farm families.
But the major concern is that these efficiency gains will be negated by the projected reduction (due to retirements) in advisory staff from 240 to 180 by 2020, reducing the critical mass of advisors and spreading the core service thinly.
The document warns that this will damage the advisor-farmer relationship and reduce the technology transfer capability. It notes the huge impact that advisors have and recognises the opportunity to re-energise the service by restoring advisory numbers to 240.
It concludes that Teagasc, with a core group of 240 advisors, will have the capacity and confidence to continue working closely with the Department, the agri-industry and farm organisations to drive the competitiveness and sustainability agenda. However, it warns that below this tipping point of 240, Teagasc managers believe a disproportionate drop in effectiveness is likely.
Teagasc director Professor Gerry Boyle said the advisory service is at a crossroads. Dermot McCarthy, Head of Teagasc Advisory Service, said Ireland needs a focused advisory service to capitalise on the development potential of agriculture.
