andMr. Halliden asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware of the serious position that exists in West Cork owing to partial failure of the potato crop and the unsuitability of the wheat, oats and potatoes grown in that district for seed for the coming year, and if he will state what steps he is going to take to meet the critical position that is likely to occur for the coming planting season in the area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Coming Planting Season in West Cork.
While I am aware that crop yields generally, and particularly wheat and potatoes, in the West Cork area are on the average lighter than in 1942, I am not prepared to accept as accurate the Deputies' description of the position. It is only natural that the produce of crops grown in a comparatively poor district is less suitable for seed purposes than seed produced under better conditions, and farmers generally in West Cork should have no difficulty whatever in obtaining renewal of seed of wheat, oats and potatoes through, the ordinary trade channels. As in previous seasons my Department hope to distribute foundation stocks of wheat, oats and potatoes in the congested districts of West Cork with a view to enabling small holders to retain the produce for seed purposes.
Is there any likelihood that the usual allocation will be increased in the congested districts this year?
I think there will be an increase, but, of course, the quantity is limited.
I have received letters from all over West Cork—including the islands in the Beara peninsula —indicating that the potato crop and the wheat crop did not come to maturity. Those crops apparently are a complete failure for seed purposes.
How are the retail distributors to retail seed wheat in West Cork or elsewhere if it costs the retail distributors more than the Minister's fixed price?
It is very difficult to fix prices except on the basis of the retail price. I can only suggest that the traders the Deputy has in mind should make arrangements earlier. If they do so, I think they will get their wheat at a reasonable price. If they leave it too late, naturally they may not be able to get the wheat.
I can assure the Minister it is quite true, that the most exhaustive efforts to get seed wheat at a price which would permit of a reasonable margin of profit, or of even selling it at cost, failed. The seed distributor was told that he must pay the fixed price, ex-Dublin.
If arrangements were made earlier in the season those traders, I suggest, would be in a better position.
Efforts were made last year to do that.