What is Africa’s real dairy export potential?

JAMES MCGRATH writes (Irish Examiner, January 14) that the Institute of Economic Affairs in London has calculated that EU agricultural policy has reduced African export potential by 90% in the case of dairying alone.

What is the potential? Is it 1,000 tonnes, 15,000 tonnes or 100,000 tonnes of dairy produce?

How many cows will be needed to produce it?

If you put five million cows into Africa, then you would - followers included - have about 15 million animals to feed.

Where is the fodder going to come from in a continent that cannot even feed its human population?

As ideas go, that one is not very bright.

My point about low corporation tax and the social welfare system is that they distort competition (Irish Examiner letters, January 6).

If CAP distorts competition and should be abolished, then they, too, should be abolished.

Thomas Herlihy

Oakfront

Charleville

Co Cork