asked the Minister for Agriculture if, given the recent July study by the Agricultural Institute which shows that the proportion of the EC milk target prices achieved by dairy farmers in the Republic remained at 88.9 per cent in 1983, the second lowest level in the Community, he considers that it is vital that the Government take the initiative to generate diversification and a market-led approach in the dairy industry.
Written Answers. - Dairy Industry Diversification.
113.
Irish dairy farmers receive a lower percentage of the EC target price for milk than farmers in most other member states because of a number of factors, including the climatic and seasonal conditions, under which the milk industry here has to operate, distance from major markets, milk composition, product range etc.
The issues of product diversification and the further development of a market-led approach are primarily issues for the industry itself to resolve. It is, however, being encouraged and assisted to overcome these and other restricting factors wherever possible. That is in line with the Government's commitment in the national plan Building on Reality to the development of the food industry as a whole and in particular to increased emphasis on the production of added value consumer-type products.