Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 May 2005
72 Dr. Upton 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. [14167/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe most recent figures available from the CSO show that there were 77,900 full-time farmers, as defined by the CSO, 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. The agri-vision 2015 committee indicated in its report that it believed the trend to part-time farming using a somewhat different definition than the CSO will continue.
The ongoing trend towards part-time farming reflects a combination of factors, including the increased availability of off-farm employment. Many smaller farmers are finding that combining farming with off-farm employment is an effective way to ensure their viability on the land. At the same time, full-time farmers are looking to the new flexibility offered to them under decoupling to develop and intensify their commercial farm enterprises.
