Payments in the new Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan (CSP) will be a “big shock” for famers, claim the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA).
According to Tim Cullinan, IFA president, the proposed CAP does not strike the right balance between environmental, economic and social sustainability.
Mr Cullinan said to ensure farmers’ survival, the Irish Government should have put more funding into programmes to support beef, sheep and tillage farmers.
“Overall, the plan will put more costs on farmers at a time when huge cost increases for energy, feed and fertiliser are already hitting them,” said Mr Cullinan.
“The latest CAP shifts the emphasis away from supporting food production. This is very short-term thinking, given that the global population is due to increase from 7.5 billion to an estimated 10 billion by 2050.”
Mr Cullinan said the plans are very complex and warned that farmers will be in for a “big shock” when they see the cut in their basic payment in 2023.
“The plan will hit a cohort of our most productive farmers who will see a devastating cut in their basic payment. Many beef, sheep and tillage farmers who do not have off-farm income will find it difficult to achieve viability,” he added.
The IFA believes more of the eco-scheme funding should have been left as part of the basic payment, where farmers “still have to comply with good agricultural and environmental practices”.
The CSP will now be sent to the European Commission for approval.
LSL News.