asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries whether his Department have made any study of the possibilities of group farming; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any steps to encourage and organise such groups.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Group Farming.
18.
Group farming can range from a simple arrangement for the joint purchase of materials, such as lime or fertilisers, to a more integrated system involving the pooling of land, labour, equipment and other resources.
The potentialities and possibilities of promoting group farming are being kept in mind. The Land Commission are undertaking a study of the value of a system of combined or group farming involving the pooling of machinery, livestock and land. The object of this study is to assess the scope for the co-operative use of land as a means of raising farm income, particularly in areas of small-scale farming.
The promotion of group activity among farmers has been an essential feature of the pilot area programme since its inception and its value has been demonstrated. The Agricultural Advisory Service is always ready to advise and assist farmers who may be contemplating group projects or co-operative activities of any kind.
Experience elsewhere indicates that group farming is not devoid of inherent problems and careful appraisal of the resources, financial and otherwise, and of the potential advantage to be gained, is necessary in all cases before embarking on these projects.
I should like to ask the Minister, in view of the fact that a number of successful experiments in group farming have been in operation here for a number of years, has his Department conducted any examination of the results achieved by these groups?
This and all other matters that would seem to have any hope of improving the lot of the Irish farmers is not only a matter that is being studied but I can assure the Deputy has been under study in this Department over the years as these things arise. That will continue to be the case in the future as well.
Surely the Minister will agree that this concept of group farming is based on the fundamental concept of co-operative farming and would the Minister not agree that the proper approach now for his Department and the Advisory Service and the Agricultural Institute would be to combine with a view to formulating a concrete national plan for group farming? It has been completely haphazard up to now.
Surely the fact that a project is in fact being set up is clear evidence that there is not any haphazard approach about this in so far as the Government are concerned and that the proper method of true assessment in a practical sense is now about to take place. No more satisfactory way of ascertaining the advantages or disadvantages could be devised than the practical application of this proposal.