The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, Pippa Hackett, has come out saying that the flattening of direct payments will see more part-time farmers in future.
She said that with a levelling of EU direct payments in the form of convergence and other measures, it is likely that the number of part-time farmers will increase. “Some bemoan that, but I believe it is something which should be welcomed, encouraged, and indeed supported.”
Minister Hackett questioned what she said was the regard in which productive or commercial farming is held, and its effect on the environment. “Perhaps we shouldn’t be quite so quick to consider the drive for more and more production as an unquestionable good,” she said.
She added that it shouldn’t matter whether a farmer is full-time or part-time, rather that they do more than produce a profit at any cost.
“Let’s start acknowledging those farmers who see themselves as true custodians of the land – as managers of enterprises, yes – but also as caretakers who are just passing through, determined to leave to the next generation land, which has been nurtured, regenerated, and enriched.”
Minister Hackett’s observations come after comments made by ICMSA President Pat McCormack, who said: “The diversion of funding away from commercial to either ‘hobby’ farming or people who just own land and don’t farm at all is now well under way. We can expect to see a sudden interest in acquiring land in these areas and that doesn’t seem to bother those with responsibility for oversight. ICMSA has warned repeatedly that we are moving away from supporting food production to, effectively, land stewardship.”
LSL News.