asked the Minister for Agriculture the number of farmers in the country now, and ten years ago; the number of staff employed in the Department of Agriculture, the county committees of agriculture, and An Foras Talúntais now, and ten years ago; and the volume of agricultural production now, and ten years ago.
Written Answers. - Agricultural Statistics.
407.
The available information is set out in the table beneath:
|
Number of Farmers (a) |
Department of Agriculture Staff |
County Committees of Agricultural Staff |
An Foras Talúntais Staff |
Index of Agricultural Output (Base 1975=100) |
|||
|
Clerical |
Advisory |
Gross (e) |
Net (f) |
||||
|
1968 |
266,000 |
3,323 (c) |
Not available |
609 |
1,077 |
79.8 |
77.3 |
|
1978 |
208,000 (b) |
5,369 (d) |
129 |
707 |
1,305 |
104.7(b) |
98.8 (b) |
Notes.
(a) These figures represent the numbers of employers and relatives assisting; these are the only data available.
(b) These are the 1977 figures, which are the latest available.
(c) This includes 110 staff in the Fisheries Division, no longer in the Department of Agriculture.
(d) This includes 943 staff of the Land Commission.
(e) This represents that part of total agricultural production which is sold off farms or consumed by persons on farms. It does not include any part of produce used for further agricultural production on the farm on which it was produced or which was sold by one farmer to another.
(f) This is gross output less inputs of materials—feed, seed and fertilisers.