IFA President John Bryan has stated that the capital expenditure programme for agriculture in the Government’s Infrastructure Investment Priorities 2010-2016 published todayis completely at odds with the targets outlined for the development of the agriculture sector in Food Harvest 2020.

 

Mr Bryan stated “ The annual allocation of €40 m for the Development of Agriculture and Food from 2012 onwards is insufficient to achieve the opportunities for growth in output, value added and exports identified in the Food Harvest report. Investment is required for farm modernisation and efficiency, which is crucial to the future viability of farming”. 

 

He continued, “The forestry sector has a central role to play in achieving Ireland’s climate change and renewable energy targets. The allocation of €84 m per annum for the forestry sector will fall far short of the funding required to achieve the annual afforestation target, outlined in the Renewed Programme for Government, of 10,000 ha per annum”.

 

Mr Bryan concluded, “ The agriculture sector, which is Ireland’s largest indigenous industry, has a vital role to play in Ireland’s export-led economic recovery. However, this requires investment to achieve the targets that have been set by both the Government and industry”.