Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 June 2022
212. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1963 of 14 June 2022, the reason for the continued decrease in total and average payments from the organic farming scheme between 2018 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34741/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current Organic Farming Scheme provides for contracts of five year duration for farmers who are converting to organic farming practices. A higher in conversion payment is provided for the first two years while a reduced maintenance payment rate is provided for the remainder of the contract.
The decrease in average payment per participant in the Organic Farming Scheme can be accounted for by the number of farmers who were previously on the higher in-conversion rate when they joined the scheme initially and have now moved to the maintenance rate.. As a result, with each passing year there is an overall higher percentage of farmers on the lower maintenance rate.
I have proposed an allocation of €256 million for the Organic Farming Scheme. This level of funding will facilitate enhanced payments to all organic farmers, which will further support maintenance and conversion to Organic Farming and assist in achieving our target of 7.5% of land cover under organic production by 2027.
