Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 October 2023
245. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he continues to monitor the needs of the agrifood producing sector, with particular reference to the need to ensure the viability of the family farm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47212/23]
View answerMy Department constantly monitors the performance and health of Ireland's agri-food sector. Along with regularly meeting with representatives of the sector, holding formal consultations and attending public forums, my Department monitors developments in farm incomes, viability, structures, key commodities, food industry trends and other key economic indicators.
My Department prepares and publishes an Annual Review and Outlook (ARO), which provides up-to-date information and statistical analysis from a variety of sources, to give a detailed overview of Ireland’s agri-food sector and an outlook for the future. A summary of key indicators of farm incomes and structures, as well as trade, labour and other economic data can also be found in the agriculture and trade fact sheets available on my Department's website.
The preliminary results of the Teagasc National Farm Survey (NFS) for 2022, released in June 2023, looks at the viability of family farms. A farm is defined as 'viable' if family labour is remunerated at greater than or equal to the minimum wage and there is sufficient income to provide an additional five per cent return on non-land based assets employed on the farm. A farm may also be classified as 'sustainable' based on off-farm employment.
According to the NFS, 43% of farms were classified 'viable' in 2022; this is the highest proportion of viable farms in the last decade. A further 30% of farms were considered 'sustainable' due to the presence of an off-farm income source; while the remaining 27% of farms were classified as 'vulnerable'.
According to the NFS, in 81% of farm households either the farmer and/or spouse has an off-farm job and/or other income from pension or social assistance. Therefore, just 19% of farm households rely fully on their farm as their only source of income. In addition, in 2022 Irish farms received an average of €18,274 in direct payments to assist in the viability of their farms.
Food Vision 2030, our shared stakeholder-led strategy for agri-food, developed for the sector by the sector, has the potential to transform our agriculture, food, forestry and marine sectors. With environmental, economic and social sustainability at its core, Food Vision 2030 aims for Ireland to be “A World Leader in Sustainable Food Systems”. It places farmers at the centre of the strategy, prioritising the improvement of competitiveness and productivity of primary producers, increasing the creation of value and distributing it fairly, and introducing greater diversification in production systems and incomes.
