asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware that the acreage of beet has fallen sharply in the past three years; and, if so, what action he intends to take to correct the downward trend.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Beet Acreage.
33.
The organisation of sugar beet growing is primarily a matter for Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann Teoranta, and the price for the crop is settled annually by negotiation between the company and the Irish Sugar Beet Growers Association.
The company has indicated that the decline which has occurred in beet acreage in the current year has been largely due to the prolonged wet weather. Other factors which have affected the acreage in recent years are a shortage of labour, and a preference in some areas for other forms of agricultural production.
I have told the Company that any proposal for utilisation of the advisory services with a view to securing an increased sugar beet acreage will have my earnest and sympathetic consideration. Special attention to this problem is in fact already being given by the advisory services in western areas.
Surely the Minister is aware that our adverse trade balance is increasing and that we are importing cereals and other foodstuffs we could and should grow at home? Surely he has a responsibility? What action does he intend to take? Does he not agree the farmers are not getting a just price for their produce? Is that not the reason why tillage has been reduced by 25 per cent?
The question relates to beet.
It is not entirely a matter of price. In fact, the price was increased in 1964 and 1965. Though it was not increased in 1966, the price was agreed between the Beet Growers Association and the Sugar Company.
Is it not true that the acreage fell by 9,000 or 10,000 last year and 13,000 the year before? All the indications are that it will fall further in the years ahead unless the Minister or somebody intervenes and gives the people a fair price.
Mr. O'Malley
"Beet, wheat and peat will go up the spout."
How much beet is grown in Westmeath, for example?
If the price of beet is satisfactory, can the Minister say why the acreage continues to drop?
I mentioned a few factors which I suggest might be responsible. One is a shortage of labour. Another is a preference in a number of areas for other forms of production. In so far as we can do anything about the situation through the advisory services, we are doing it. As regards the question of price, the price is a matter to be negotiated by the Sugar Company and the Beet Growers Association. In 1964 and 1965, fairly satisfactory increases were given. Even though in 1966 the price was not increased, it was agreed between the Association and the company.
If anything serious is intended to be done, with special reference to the survival of the Tuam factory, why does the Minister not have the courage to institute, at least in the province of Connacht, the Parish Plan, put an agricultural adviser in every parish in that province at least and effectively bring to the small farmers there the accumulated knowledge available?
We have increased considerably the number of advisers in the west.
But you have not instituted the Parish Plan. If you do, you succeed. If you do not, you fail.
I would like to have an adviser in every parish, but whether the Parish Plan would be the right form of organisation or not——
That is a concrete proposal.
The aim is to have an adequate number of advisers. We have already considerably increased the number of advisers in the west. We have made more generous financial arrangements with the county committees to enable them to provide more advisers. In Galway and other counties, we have a special drive through the advisory services to try to increase the acreage of beet.
If it has been organised, it does not seem to be producing much results.
Do I take the Minister as saying that the beet acreage in the west is likely to increase? My information is that it is decreasing.
Could the Minister give us further information about the shortage of labour he spoke of, in view of the fact so many are leaving the land because they cannot get adequate employment?
I think it is true that a shortage of labour is responsible in certain counties for a decline in the acreage.
If they pay a decent wage, they will get all the men they want.
It is a combination of two factors—a preference by some farmers for other types of production combined with a relative scarcity of labour in certain counties. Deputy Corish's county is one of the bright spots.