Farmers to challenge gloomy forecast for industry
The country’s farmers are today set to challenge a Government report which forecast as few as 10,000 farmers would be in business in the next decade.
The Irish Farmers Association initiated their own review of the Agri-Vision 2015 study which claimed the industry was facing rapid changes with strategies needed to create new styles of farms and businesses.
It is understood IFA officials believe the Agri-Vision report underestimated the future survival of the industry.
The Agri Vision 2015 Committee was established by the then Minister for Agriculture and Food, Joe Walsh TD, in January 2004 to look into the future of agri-business in Ireland.
The Agri-Vision 2015 report claimed that over the next 10 years the number of farmers could drop to 10,000.
The report stated that by 2015, 54% of farmers will be part-time compared to 41% at present.
It forecast there would only be 10,000 economically viable full-time farmers operating. Despite its growing sophistication, agriculture forms just 3% of the economy.
Conor Lucey, IFA chief economist, took up a review of the statistics used to form the Agri-Vision report.
IFA President John Dillon and IFA General Secretary Michael Berkery will launch the report in Dublin.
