Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 July 2016
243. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action he will take to ensure tillage farmers break even on their produce in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21606/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe tillage sector is an important and integral component of the Agrifood industry, contributing significant value added to exports of food and drink, which reached a record high of €10.8 billion in 2015. My commitment to this sector is underlined in the Food Wise 2025 report for the industry. This action plan for the Agrifood sector contains over 400 recommendations and identifies many areas for growth in the tillage sector, particularly in the very important and successful distilling and craft brewing industries. The report also identifies growth opportunities for expanded production of native malt, high-end health foods and value-added niche foods and ingredients.
In order to increase the availability of native grown protein crops for inclusion in animal feeds, I introduced a protein aid scheme in 2015, as part of the implementation of the reformed CAP package in Ireland. €3 million was set aside annually for this scheme and the rate of payment has been increased to €280/ha.
The Basic Payment and Greening Scheme which is operational since 2015 contains provisions supportive of the tillage sector, notably with regard to crop diversification provisions and requirements for Ecological Focus Areas.
The Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 contains measures to support the establishment of Knowledge Transfer Groups across the main farming sectors. A Knowledge Transfer Group for the Tillage sector is currently being rolled out.
Formal approval from the EU Commission to an amendment to the Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020 to provide for the inclusion of a Tillage Scheme under the suite of measures provided under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme was received on 23 June 2016 and the Scheme will be opened for applications later this year.
In addition to these specific recent initiatives, my Department operates ongoing schemes and programmes in relation to seed certification and crop variety evaluation. These schemes ensure that only the best quality seed is available to growers and that Irish cereal yields remain among the highest in the world. However, it is important to acknowledge that cereal prices are highly sensitive to global supply and demand and that volatility in prices is likely to remain a constant feature of the Irish cereal market.
