Imagine a shortage of Irish vegetables in supermarkets. This may soon be a reality according to the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA).
Chair of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) Horticulture Paul Brophy has predicted that the first shortages this season for Irish produce could come in the form of crops such as tomatoes and cucumbers, followed by iceberg lettuce, green cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli. It’s understood that this is due to rising costs in the horticulture sector.
While the horticulture sector is very labour intensive, Brophy adds that expenditure on fertiliser would be considerably higher. Added to this, the cost of packaging, fuel and energy have increased considerably, with the IFA Chair saying that it would cost 15% – 20% more to produce a crop.
“It’s the lack of recognition that inflation has not just crept in, but galloped into all our businesses. We’re just inundated with cost increases that are outside our control,” says Brophy.
He has dismissed the option of growing produce to meet demand simply stating the scale in growing produce would then become your enemy. By this he meant that when the scale is in a negative state the growers would then suffer a loss.
Brophy says that securing and affording labour is also a major issue for the sector, accounting for 40% of costs.
LSL News.