The Agriculture Minister has promised to accommodate the ‘forgotten farmers’ in the next CAP.
The ‘forgotten farmers’ are a cohort of young farmers under 40, who fell between the cracks in successive CAP cycles and were locked out of the recent cycle.
Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue said looking after the farmers will be one of his priorities during negotiations for the new CAP. Around 4,000 farmers have not been previously accommodated.
“Under the new CAP, I fully intend on honouring the commitment I gave to these farmers,” said Minister McConalogue.
“This group of farmers are young and progressive and we must not stand in their way – we must harness and encourage their ambition and I fully intend on doing that.”
Macra na Feirme welcomed the commitment and its national president Thomas Duffy said the young farmers have been left out in the cold far too long.
“We are delighted with the news and we welcome Minister McConalogue’s commitment to resolve the matter for the affected young farmers in the new CAP arrangements,” Mr Duffy said.
“All young farmers deserve equal treatment. Macra want assurances that this does not happen again to any young farmer,” he added.
LSL News.