asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the extent to which devaluation has affected or will affect farm production costs, with particular reference to the cost of fertilisers and feeding stuffs; and if he proposes to introduce any measures to offset increases in the prices of these products.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Devaluation Effects on Farm Production.
27.
Devaluation has not, so far, appeared to have had any marked effect on the general level of farm production costs. While imported feed and fertiliser will be dearer, it is not possible at present to make any reliable assessment of the overall future effects of devaluation on farm costs generally because of the variety of factors involved, including the native content of farm inputs, the level of pre-devaluation stocks, normal fluctuations in world prices resulting from the supply-demand situation and the possibility of resort to cheaper sources of supply.
On the other hand, devaluation should be of some benefit to agriculture by improving market prospects in certain countries which did not devalue their currencies and also possibly in Britain where our competitive position should be improved compared with other food exporting countries which have not devalued. The whole situation is being kept under review.