asked the Minister for Agriculture the action he proposes to take to develop the production of Irish onions, given that the area under onion production dropped from 610 hectares in 1977 to 175 hectares in 1983.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Onion Production.
22.
The decline in the area under onion production can be attributed to competition from imports and to difficulties caused by the Irish climate. AFT and ACOT have been encouraging the adoption of new techniques of transplanting and harvesting onions and these may help overcome the climatic disadvantages. Grant aid is available under the farm modernisation scheme for onion storage facilities and aid is also available for the formation of producer groups.
Does the Minister accept that similar climatic conditions exist in England who are the main importers of onions? If we do not do something urgently, the production of Irish onions will be completely lost.
Some of our growers had a few bad years because of disease and other problems which caused them to move into other areas, but the Deputy will be glad to know that something is being done about it. The main problem is that there is a very short growing season, including the difficult period of spring weather. The Sugar Company, with help from some of our advisers, have now developed the technique of growing the seed under plastic and then transplanting which should certainly help the commercial production of onions.
It is a very lame excuse to say that our climate is unsuitable when a country with the same climatic conditions can expand production and take over our markets.
They have not taken over our markets. Most of our imports come from much further away than the UK, from Holland but mostly from Spain.