asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will immediately allocate a section of his Department to organise the marketing of Irish vegetables and if he will make a detailed statement on the entire vegetable production and marketing situation.
312.
Written Answers. - Horticultural Development.
311.
asked the Minister for Agriculture the plans he has for the development of the horticultural industry.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 311 and 312 together. The overall acreage of vegetables for sale on the fresh market has increased steadily in recent years but certain individual crops, notably early tomatoes and onions, have declined in the face of competition from imports. There is scope for recovery in these areas and also for further expansion of other crops such as carrots and cauliflowers to meet the increasing market demand over a longer season. In the industry as a whole there is an urgent need for greater organisation to meet modern market conditions with emphasis on providing high-quality produce in continuous supply over an extended season. This would enable the industry to meet the increasing pressure of competition from imports and to develop its full potential.
The question of organising the marketing of vegetables is primarily a matter for the industry itself but a number of initiatives in this direction are being taken by the sections of my Department which deal with horticultural matters. For example, financial aid is being provided towards the employment of a market coordinator by the glasshouse industry. Aid is also available towards the formation of producer groups in the vegetable sector. The horticultural development group is advising on the development prospects, and the inter-departmental committee on food imports has pinpointed the import substitution possibilities for vegetables. I would like to see the horticultural industry responding with a greater degree of urgency to the opportunities presented by these various measures.