Irish farmers urged to grow more crops in response to Ukraine war

ireland
Irish Farmers Urged To Grow More Crops In Response To Ukraine War
General Stock – Combine Harvesting, © PA Archive/PA Images
Share this article

By Dominic McGrath, PA

Farmers in Ireland are being urged grow more barley, oats and wheat in the wake of the war in Ukraine.

The Government is hoping a new multi-million euro scheme, launched on Thursday, will ensure the backing of farmers in the bid to boost crop production.

Advertisement

The €10 million scheme was quickly put together by the Department of Agriculture, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine fuelled concerns about the stability and security of grain imports to Ireland.

Both Ukraine and Russia are major sources of wheat and other cereals.

The Government last week approved a €12 million package for tillage farmers, which the tillage scheme a key part of the measures agreed.

Advertisement

Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue said that the Government had moved quickly to encourage farmers to grow more crops.

Mica protest by children from Donegal
Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue (Brian Lawless/PA)

“The Tillage Incentive Scheme aims to support farmers to grow more tillage crops in 2022, to reduce Ireland’s dependency on imported feed material,” he said.

Advertisement

“We have acted quickly to put this package in place and I am grateful to my Department and everyone in the sector for working so hard to deliver it.”

He said that the €10 million budget “reflects a contribution towards the increase in the cost of growing crops in 2022″.

Farmers have already been hit by the growing cost fertiliser, with already-high prices pushed higher still by the war.

In Ireland, growers had said that meeting more ambitious targets would be a challenge.

Advertisement

The scheme closes on May 16th, 2022.

Mr McConalogue stated: “I urge farmers to take account of the Tillage Incentive Scheme when deciding on crops to sow in the coming days and weeks.”

Read More

Message submitting... Thank you for waiting.

Want us to email you top stories each lunch time?

Download our Apps
© BreakingNews.ie 2024, developed by Square1 and powered by PublisherPlus.com