Farmers seek support for role in expansion plan
While welcoming the new Food Wise 2025 plan to grow agri-food exports by 85% to €19bn, IFA president Eddie Downey said it will only work if the Government can ensure farming is profitable for primary producers.
“The plan targets 65% growth in the value of farm output in the next decade,” he said.
“This will depend on farmers increasing output of high-value, sustainably- produced food, but it must be economically viable.”
The Department of Agriculture and its industry partners say this growth could create 23,000 jobs, with the sector’s value-added element rising 70% to €13bn.
The IFA says farmers must be rewarded for their work and investment, with dairy farmers notably investing heavily as part of Ireland’s post-dairy quota strategy.
It wants strong funding for farm schemes backing income, farm investment, improved efficiency and agri-environmental measures as a priority when Budget 2016 is published in October.
“We need targeted support for the low-income cattle and sheep sectors, on-farm investment programmes and knowledge transfer, and the reversal of funding cuts imposed on farmers in marginal areas,” said Mr Downey.
“And funding for 50,000 for the GLAS scheme in 2016 must be made available.”
The plan has been praised by Meat Industry Ireland, Irish Dairy Industries Association, and Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland.
They said every sector would have to benefit from the commitment to quality food and drink production, and the plan to expand export markets, driven by State agencies such as Bord Bia and others.
Co-op group ICOS welcomed the bid to promote collaboration and co-operation.
“There is greater scope for processors to collaborate in pursuit of scale and efficiency in operations, marketing and innovation,” said ICOS president Martin Keane.
Frank O’Mara, Teagasc head of research, said: “Productivity improvements can be generated in the sustainable use of our grasslands. Animal productivity can be achieved via genomics, generating profit from healthy animals driven by genetics.”
