The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) is calling on processors to institute a 30c/kg price increase for pig farmers. IFA pigs committee chair, Roy Gallie says that cashflows are unsustainable and that this is an urgent situation. Farmers in the sector have been haemorrhaging money since September 2021 and losses have risen to €40 per pig sold, he adds. It’s understood that the increase would restore the Irish pig market to European average level.
The latest call follows a protest held at government buildings earlier this week, organised by pig farmers from the IFA. Officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) are now assessing a proposal for a €100 million support package for the pig sector. The proposal, compiled by the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), Meat Industry Ireland (MII) and the Irish Grain and Feed Association (IGFA), was submitted to the department earlier this month.
But the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue says that the ask from the IFA “was massive”. This as the plan proposes a “50-50 private-public partnership” to be funded through €50 million of state money, and another €50 million put on a long-term mortgage of €1/pig stretched out over 14 or 15 years.
With the development of the sector a priority, the Minister says “I will work and engage with farmers on how I can work with them to support the sector through this” .
IFA representatives have acknowledged the challenges in delivering such a scheme, but continue to emphasise the need for urgent action within the sector.