Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 March 2005
133 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of farmers who have left full-time farming since 1997; her views on the fall in the number of full-time farmers; the steps she is taking to deal with the drift from the land; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6959/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe most recent figures available from the CSO show that there were 77,900 full-time farmers in 2003, a drop of 20,400 since 1997. Over the same period the number of part-time farmers increased by 7,900 to 57,200. This ongoing trend towards part-time farming reflects a combination of factors including the increased availability of off-farm employment and the need for farmers to choose the most effective path to maximise competitiveness and the optimal level of efficient production. In recent years the choice for farmers has tended to involve a combination of part-time farming and the farmer or spouse holding an off-farm job.
This trend away from full-time farming towards the part-time option is expected to continue under the new system of decoupled farm payments. The recent report of the Agri Vision 2015 Committee stated that off-farm employment and income are now standard parts of farm family work and income patterns. It went on to state that there seems to be no doubt that present patterns and trends will continue and that farm household income reliance on off-farm employment will increase under the newly reformed CAP.
