Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2022
1955. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of organic farming scheme participants that exited the scheme in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29097/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table below illustrates the number of organic farming scheme participants that have exited the scheme in each year from 2019 to date:
|
Year |
No. of Participants |
|
2019 |
24 |
|
2020 |
73 |
|
2021 |
48 |
|
2022 |
2 |
|
Total |
147 |
Participants who joined the Organic Farming Scheme in 2015 and 2016 were initially offered a five-year contract. Following agreement by the European Commission each participant was offered a one-year extension in advance of the expiry of their contract. Of the 1,468 participants offered an extension 1,394 accepted and 73 declined citing various reasons for not continuing to farm organically. In 2021, my Department once again offered these same participants an additional one-year extension and a further 18 declined to extend. A total of 56 participants lapsed their organic licence since 2019 and therefore were no longer eligible to participate in the Organic Farming Scheme. In total, 147 participants have exited the Organic Farming Scheme since 2019.
The supports of €256 million which I have secured in the CAP period 2023 -2027 for conversion to and maintenance of organic farming practices will I believe encourage many farmers to become organic farmers.
