Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:58 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food whether there has been a substantial drop in farm incomes over the past two years; and, if so, if he has any proposals to reverse this trend.
Written Answers. - Farm Incomes.
Statistics produced by the Central Statistics Office show that Aggregate Farm Income, or income from self employment, and other trading income fell by an estimated 2.2 per cent in 1990 and by an estimated 10.1 per cent in 1991. These statistics exclude farmers' incomes from non-farm activities. The figure for 1991 is a preliminary estimate and the final figures will not be available until the end of this month.
The main reason for the fall in income during 1990 and 1991 was the weakness of world and EC markets for our main products due to surpluses, animal health problems in other countries and other factors in those years.
Preliminary estimates suggest that overall farm incomes in 1992 will at least be maintained, if not improved, on the 1991 levels. The market balance for dairy products is relatively healthy and stocks at world and EC level have decreased. There has also been an improvement in the overall supply and demand position in the beef sector. The modernisation plan for the pigmeat industry has now been completed and this should result in an increase in both the volume and value of output during 1992.
The combination of these factors together with an increase in the level of subsidies being paid should lead to some improvement in farm incomes during the year.