I am acutely aware that due to a wet spring and the recent lack of rainfall some growers are experiencing challenges in production and there has been an increase in input costs across all agriculture, which has added to this challenge.
To address some of the challenges being faced across the horticulture sectors, the recently published National Strategy for Horticulture 2023-2027 identified eight Key Strategic Actions the implementation of which will ensure the long term continued viability of the horticulture industry.
In addition to this my Department supports the horticulture industry in Ireland with a range of measures. The national exchequer funded 2023 Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Horticulture Sector has an increased budget of €10 million and is currently open for applications. The EU funded Producer Organisation scheme for fruit and vegetables delivered €4.2 million in aid for the industry in 2022 and similar levels of aid will be payable for 2023 activities. The Brexit Adjustment Resrve (BAR) funded 2023 Scheme of Investment Aid for the seed potato sector and chipping potato sector has a budget of €1.5 million to help develop these sectors.
Separately, the importance of the tillage sector is recognised in the Food Vision 2030 strategy and in the Climate Action Plan 2023 where a target is set out to increase the area in tillage to 400,000 hectares.
To help achieve this target, I recently established the Food Vision 2030 Tillage Group which brings together all relevant stakeholders to develop a roadmap for the sustainable growth and development of the sector to 2030.
In recent years, I have introduced several measures to support the tillage sector. Last year, I introduced the Tillage Incentive Scheme (TIS), a support measure for farmers to incentivise an increase in the area of eligible tillage crops which resulted in payment of f €10.9 million in 2022. The budget for the Scheme in 2023 is €10 million.
I more than doubled the budget for the Protein Aid Scheme from €3 million to €7 million in the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023 - 2027. I also secured the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) as a new measure in the CSP with an annual budget of €10 million. €19.5m has been paid out to tillage farmers under this measure since it was launched as a pilot in 2021.
Our new Agri-Environmental Scheme (ACRES) includes a broad range of actions that are relevant to tillage famers while the new Tillage Capital Investment Scheme under TAMS contains a broader range of investments and a higher investment ceiling of €90,000.
The Department of Environment, Climate and Communications have recently signalled the commencement of the development of the Climate Action Plan 2024 which will include a dedicated chapter on Adaptation.
My Department continues to engage with the sector in relation to current challenges and will monitor the situation regarding further supports under review.
