As concerns over food security mount government has announced several methods in alleviating concern. In its recent announcement government says that it would introduce a crop-planting scheme for farmers in order to assist with the current crisis that may be looming as fighting continues with Russia and Ukraine. Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue announced that he would meet with farm organisations on Tuesday to discuss this issue.
But various farming organisations such as the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA) says they have been given no warning that any such move was being considered, but in the same breath added that farmers will understand that the situation was fluid and that all options had to be on the table. According to ICMSA president Pat McCormack they will be ready to look at anything the Minister puts in front of them. However, McCormack has reiterated that “any proposals should be voluntary and should be worked out, specifically in terms of environmental regulations around nitrates.” He claims that “the EU has ignored this principle on energy and are now in a position where, almost literally, Putin’s Russia has the whole continent over a barrel.”
Farm organisations will be officially briefed on this scheme on Tuesday after a scheduled cabinet meeting.
LSL News.