Jim O'Keeffe
Question:83 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the success or otherwise of the development of organic farming here; and his proposals to encourage the further development of this sector. [9059/03]
Written Answers - Organic Farming.
While the organic sector in Ireland is small it has grown over recent years. Sales of organic food are estimated to be worth over €30 million a year. Currently there are some 1,000 organic operators registered with my Department, and approximately 30,000 hectares of land are being farmed to organic standards. While this represents less than 1% of agricultural land, it is a fourfold increase on the area farmed organically in the mid 1990s.
The Government is committed to the further development of the organic sector and have provided substantial funding to advance it. Organic farmers can draw attractive financial support through the rural environment protection scheme. While in conversion to organic farming they can receive up to €13,280 a year in REPS, and after they have gained full organic status they can continue to draw up to €9,680 annually. Organic farmers have received more than €20 million in REPS payments since the scheme was introduced in 1994.
Further financial support is provided through the scheme of grant aid for the development of the organic sector, which offers 40% grant assistance for both on-farm and off-farm capital investment in equipment and facilities for the production, preparation, grading, packing, storage and distribution of organic produce. For on-farm investment projects grant assistance is available up to a maximum of €50,790, while off-farm investment projects may receive up to a maximum of €253,948.
While these financial supports make a major contribution to the organic sector, all stakeholders have a part to play in its further development. I accepted a recommendation of the AgriFood 2010 committee and established an organic development committee, which produced its report in April 2002. The committee has estimated that a target of 3% of land area in organic farming by 2006 is achievable. It has also made a number of recommendations to develop the organic sector in Ireland, including the setting up a national steering group. The steering group has already met twice and has established an organic market development group and a partnership expert working group.
I will continue to lend my support to the development of the organic sector and, where possible, to the implementation of the recom mendations of the organic development committee.