asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will make a statement on the future he envisages for the smaller farmers involved in poultry and pig production.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Poultry and Pig Production.
38.
While the development of large-scale production units over recent years has made it more difficult for small independent producers to compete on a viable basis, there is still very much a place for the efficient small farmer in poultry and pig production, as substantial units can be and have been developed on farms of small size. The interests of such smaller farmers can best be served also by developing the formation of co-operative groups both on the purchasing and the marketing sides.
How can a small farmer go into poultry production on an economic basis at present when one takes into account the large numbers that are involved to make it economic?
If he could get the price for eggs that has been going for the past six months he would not do too badly at all, if he was only able to supply his neighbours and himself.
That would be all right if he did not have to pay for the feeding stuffs.
The profit is quite good.
It is no different from any other small business.
The Deputy would not know much about farmers or their problems.
Now that the Minister does not agree that the farmers are losing money on pigs, how does he envisage small producers enlarging to the extent he has spoken of, 20 sow units, in this day and age when the pig industry is losing a fortune?
The Deputy is assuming that the pig industry will always be in its present position. It will not. And it was in this position on many occasions previously.
The Minister did not answer my question.
The Chair has no control over that.
How does the Minister envisage this when the pig industry was never at such a low ebb?
Indeed it was and worse.
Deputies
Never.
Am I right in thinking that grants will only be available to those involved at a level of 20 sow units and that no grants will be available to anybody with anything less?
I said that ten minutes ago.
Can the Minister tell us what the average size sow unit for the country is at the moment?
I do not know.
I will tell the Minister. It is about three and a half to four.
I do not know where the Deputy gets his statistics. Off the top of his head?
(Interruptions.)
I presume the Chair did not hear the Minister's reply when he more or less accused me of talking out of the top of my head. I should like to assure the Minister that if I should produce the odd statistic it is fairly accurate. I accuse the Minister of a complete sell-out of the small farmers involved.
The Chair cannot condone statements. I am calling on Deputy Leonard for a final supplementary.
This is the sort of tongue that Fianna Fáil Deputies give before an Árd-Fheis.
No, it is not. The Minister should be at home more often. If he was he would hear that for himself.
Does the Minister still hold, as he did some months ago, that the long term future for the pig industry is bright?
Yes, I hope so.
And 150,000 small farmers cannot stand the strain in the meantime.
The Government side represent only the big farmers.