asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the quantity of phosphates (i) purchased by farmers during the year 1949, and (ii) available for purchase in the present year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Purchase of Phosphates.
I have no information which would enable me to state the quantity of phosphates purchased by farmers in 1949. If the Deputy means the quantity made available for sale by home manufacturers and importers for the 1949 cropping season, it is, including phosphates used in compound fertilisers, approximately 258,000 tons. It is not possible at this stage to state what quantity of phosphates will be manufactured or imported for the 1950 season, but indications are that it will be greater than the 1949 figure. If farmers could be persuaded to put out phosphates on grass now, it would greatly relieve the storage position and facilitate the provision of still larger quantities than can otherwise be made available.
Is the Minister aware that 250 tons of phosphates amount to approximately half a cwt. per acre on the agricultural land of this country and does he not think that half a cwt. per acre is an appallingly low amount of phosphates for this country, if we are to improve production? Is he aware that the only thing preventing farmers from using more and more phosphates is lack of capital?
The Deputy is quite mistaken. The principal limitation on the user of phosphates at present is our inability, through lack of storage, to produce more phosphates, and we are producing and importing all that we can handle. If the farmers could be persuaded to purchase and use phosphates in the winter and early spring, this would permit a 100 per cent. use of our storage, and consequently, a substantial addition to the total amount used, but the Deputy will be glad to hear that two new factories are in process of organisation and that I hope to see a third promoted.