Thomas P. Broughan
Question:15 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the measures, if any, he can use to ensure that farm producers receive fair prices for their produce. [26121/98]
Written Answers. - Agricultural Produce.
The prices which producers receive for their product are determined by many factors including in particular the balance between supply and demand. For those products covered by the EU Common Agricultural Policy, the various supports applied within the market regime in question are, in general, designed to support producer prices at or above particular levels. The manner in which the processing, distribution and marketing of the primary product is carried on, either in more basic or value added form, is also a major factor in the price available to the producer at farm level.
One of the principal means at my disposal to ensure that a fair price is paid to producers is to negotiate adequate market support arrangements for the product in question at EU level. The provision of EU and National Exchequer investment aid for projects related to the processing and marketing of food products is also a mechanism designed to ensure that there is sufficient competition within the trade and that the maximum value is added to the available raw material. As regards marketing, the work done by An Bord Bia contributes towards the enhancement of the ultimate price paid to producers. The various measures to guarantee the safety and quality of produce provide the necessary assurance to the consumer and protects the price to the producer.