"These new figures show that
Irish farming is in the midst of a social and economical crisis," Mr O'
Súilleabháin said. "Only half of
Irish farms have an heir apparent. Only
6.2% of Irish farmers are under 35.
Contrast that with the fact that 26.3% are over 65 and you realise that
our whole farming sector is under threat."
"Successive Irish governments have neglected the agriculture sector and
rural communities. The last Fianna Fail
administration allowed agricultural output to collapse. In 2009 our output in that sector was less
than it had been two decades earlier which resulted in farm income falling by
30%. Nationally the number of farms has fallen from 228,000 in 1975 to 128,000
in 2006. It is projected that this
decline will continue, reaching 105,000 in 2015, as more small farmers are
forced off the land."
"Agriculture has the potential
to benefit our whole economy and to create jobs across the island. The IFA estimates that farmers and farm
families spend €8 billion per year in our economy. It’s thought that 300,000 jobs are supported
by the agriculture, food and related industries. For every €100 of agriculture output there is
a further €73 of output to the wider economy.
71% of raw materials used by our agri and fishing industries are sourced
in the domestic market."
"The government must work to get more young people farming. Failure to do so would result in a grave
threat to the targets laid out in the Food Harvest 2020 plan. Threats to existing incentives such as the
single farm payment must end now and these payments must be ring-fenced. The land leasing tax exemption scheme should
be promoted better. This allows the
transfer of land to more productive farmers.
It is ideal for part time farmers who hold down another job and for the
elderly."
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