asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he can state the area under tobacco cultivation in 1934 and the area which it is anticipated will be cultivated in 1935; whether it is a fact that in many instances the produce of an acre of tobacco of the 1934 crop has yielded to the producer not more than £7, and that in rare cases only was the yield more than £15 per acre; whether he is in a position to state the cost of labour, seeds, manure and marketing involved in the growing, curing and marketing of an acre of tobacco, and whether he can indicate that the method of calculating the price payable to persons engaged in tobacco cultivation will be revised so as to obtain a reasonable recompense for the labour expended and the outlay incurred in tobacco production.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tobacco Cultivation Yields.
Dr. Ryan
The area under tobacco cultivation by licensed tobacco growers in 1934 was, approximately, 1,050 acres. Licences to grow tobacco in 1935, to the extent of some 1,350 acres, have been recommended by me to the Revenue Commissioners.
It will not be possible to ascertain the actual return to the growers from tobacco of the 1934 crop until the crop has been rehandled, bonded and finally valued. Any sums already paid to growers are merely advances on account based on the preliminary valuation of each grower's crop when received by the rehandler.
The cost of growing, curing and marketing an acre of tobacco averages about £25. I am satisfied that the present method of determining the price payable to persons engaged in tobacco cultivation will provide a reasonable recompense to any grower who carries out the growing and curing of his tobacco in a proper manner.
Arising out of the Minister's reply to Deputy Norton's question, does he accept the figure set out in Deputy Norton's question of £7 as the minimum and £15 as the maximum for the yield of tobacco per acre to the producer?
Dr. Ryan
The maximum is certainly wrong.
Would he accept the figure of £15 as the average yield?
Dr. Ryan
Oh, no. It is too low.
On the basis of the production cost of £25 per acre mentioned by the Minister, is he of opinion that anybody can grow and produce tobacco economically to-day?
Dr. Ryan
I have seen some returns where the amount realised is over £60 an acre.
In this year?
Dr. Ryan
Yes.
And is he of opinion, on the prices that are going to rule in this season, that it will be possible to get any return of that kind?
Dr. Ryan
Yes—for the good growers.
Would the Minister say if 1,350 is the maximum acreage for which he proposes to issue licences this year?
Dr. Ryan
Yes. As a matter of fact, there was no restriction except with regard to the maximum of two acres to each individual. Otherwise, there was no restriction and every person who grew tobacco before and who was likely to be a satisfactory grower was recommended to the Revenue Commissioners.
Does the Minister suggest that persons who did not grow tobacco last year have got licences this year?
Dr. Ryan
Yes.
Would the Minister say what, from his experience, is the average yield per acre to the tobacco grower? Would the Minister say further what he considers would be a reasonable return having regard to his estimated cost of cultivating an acre of tobacco?
Dr. Ryan
We have not sufficient experience to know what the average yield is. In the month of May we would, of course, have the figure showing the average yield for this year. With regard to the other question as to what would be a reasonable return; it would be represented by whatever profit any Deputy might think would be required over and above £25.
I am sure the Minister has had complaints from people who are not able to get a yield of over £25 per acre?
Dr. Ryan
Yes.
In those cases will he take steps to ensure that those people can get a reasonable return, having regard to the cost of cultivating the tobacco?
Dr. Ryan
That is not possible. Some people got nothing for their tobacco because it was not marketed.
Is it not a fact that over a thousand pounds of dried tobacco has been produced to the acre?
Dr. Ryan
Yes.
I do not know whether or not this should be a separate question. Can the Minister say if he is working on any percentage of our requirements in regulating the amount of tobacco to be grown?
That is a separate question.
In arriving at £25 as an overhead charge, is the figure for labour taken at 24/- per week?
Dr. Ryan
Whatever the average labour costs are.
I trust that Deputy Norton will make a note of that statement.