Farmer’s sons find common ground

“He’s a pure gentleman.”

That’s the verdict of Clare farmer James Lynch on China’s vice-president Xi Jinping.

He and his wife, Maura, should know as they had an intimate encounter yesterday with China’s designated new leader at their farm in Cappagh, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare.

As a sharp ground frost gave wave to glorious sunshine, Mr Xi, himself the son of a farmer, trampled through the pastures to see the couple’s herd of Friesian dairy cows and beef cattle.

“He was very knowledgeable and very interested in learning more about the quality of the grass and how Ireland produces high quality milk and beef,” said Mr Lynch. “He even went to see the silage and wanted to know when it grew and when it was cut.”

Mr Lynch understood Mr Xi’s keen interest in farming development. As vice-chairman of Dairygold Co-op, he went to China in November as part of an Irish agricultural trade mission, travelling to the city of Hothot in inner Mongolia and its dairying hinterland.

“The average farm there is about 10 acres and milks seven cows. The milk yields are about one third of what we get here so he wanted to learn how we operate.”

It wasn’t all business, either, as the Lynch family was anxious for Mr Xi to experience Irish hospitality. A family man himself, Mr Xi chatted easily with James and Maura and James’s mother, Ann, and met the couple’s three children, James, 5, Olive, 3 and nine-month-old Ronan.

“He was very much at ease with us, chatting with my mother and he even drank an Irish coffee. He came across as a very friendly and modest man and an extremely courteous one.”

The crowing glory of the 40-minute visit was when Mr Xi was shown a new-born Friesian heifer calf named after him. “It arrived just in the nick of time,” said James. Conversation was casual and good humoured. “I know more about my calves than my children,” he told the vice-president. Quick as a flash, Mr Xi responded: “That’s because they grow up together.”

Mr Xi’s presence was viewed as hugely significant by farm leaders and Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney.

“Having the opportunity to bring the Chinese vice- president to a family farm in Ireland will leave a lasting and positive impression of the natural source of Irish agrifood products,” he said.

Mr Coveney and Mr Xi discussed the importance China attaches to food security and to increasing agricultural productivity. “Ireland is renowned for its high quality and safe food production and was strategically placed to provide increasing volumes of quality food to China given the higher levels of increased production of dairy products, meats, sea-food and beverages that will take place over the coming years in Ireland,” said Mr Coveney.

“The Chinese associate Ireland with high quality and safe food,” said Mr Coveney after the meeting. “This visit will help with expanding dairy production in the next few years as EU quotas are abolished. We plan for an increase in dairy production of 45% between now and 2019.”

His positive view was echoed by John Brian, president of the Irish Farmers’ Association. “Mr Xi sees Ireland as a good source of food imports for China,” he said. “His visit here is hugely significant.”