McAleese: Event is a showcase of rural spirit

A SHOWCASE of the spirit and genius of rural Ireland was how President Mary McAleese described the National Ploughing Championships in Athy, Co Kildare yesterday.

Attending the event for the last time as president, she said it is not just a case of great ploughing skills, or farming craft or advanced machinery.

“Farmers know that we cannot reap if we do not sow and we cannot sow if we do not plough. So, rather than curse the times, they prepare the ground for the future harvest and do their best to make it the best harvest they can,” she said.

President McAleese said the sector has emerged as a star of our economy in these particularly tough times.

“The agri-food sector is our most indigenous industry and is playing a hugely important role in our export led economic recovery.

“That did not happen by some coincidence but by the hard and relentless work of our agricultural community which has set and maintained the highest standards in food production, the environment and sustainability.

“The quality of what they produce is top class and respected all over the world. Your success gives us heart as a nation and renews our faith in Ireland’s status as a potential leader in the agri-food sector,” said Mrs McAleese.

Bord Bia meanwhile announced at the event that food and drink exports in 2011 are expected to reach an all-time high of €8.9 billion, an increase of more than 12% or almost €1bn on 2010 levels.

This follows growth of €700 million in 2010 leaving Ireland’s food exports in 2011 some 25% ahead of 2009 levels.

It issued the forecast at the championships where Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney also confirmed that the Singapore market for Irish beef is being re-opened.

Mr Coveney, meanwhile, welcomed the decision by the Singaporean authorities to lift their suspension on the importation of beef from Ireland and to allow the importation of beef from animals aged under 30 months. He said Singapore is a key market in Southeast Asia and its system of administration is held in high esteem by other countries throughout the region and beyond.

There is every reason to hope that the decision of the Singaporean authorities will have a positive effect on our efforts to gain access to other markets in the region.

Meanwhile, against a backdrop of strong global demand and high prices, eight out of 10 exporters surveyed by Bord Bia rate their prospects as improved or very improved compared with this time last year.

All major categories are expected to show growth this year, led by dairy and meat, which combined account for more than 60% of total food and drink exports. Strong global prices are driving export growth, with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) food price index 26% ahead of this time last year.

However, increased volumes of dairy products, pigmeat, whiskey, cider, confectionery, sauces/soups and mushrooms are also boosting revenues.

It is estimated that the volume growth across these categories will account for up to 30% of the total.

Bord Bia chief executive Aidan Cotter said as world supplies struggle to keep pace with the growth in global demand, the outlook for food exporters for the remainder of the year and into 2012 remains positive.