Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 9 Dec 1999

Vol. 512 No. 5

Written Answers. - Organic Farming.

Derek McDowell

Question:

44 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the expansion in the volume of home grown horticultural organic produce which has taken place in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26454/99]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

Details of the areas of organic horticultural produce and the number of operators involved in organic horticultural production since 1995 are as follows:

Year	Land Use	No. of Operators
1995	178 ha	138
1996	183 ha	146
1997	193 ha	170
1998	200 ha	200

Definitive data are not available to my Department for earlier years.

I expect that the demand for organically produced horticultural food products will continue to grow in the future. I am confident that with supports available through REPS and under the new organic measure provided for in the national development plan, Irish producers will be well placed to meet the increasing demand.