The Marts Information Communication Technology (ICT) Infrastructure Scheme has availed financial support in the form of grants towards the infrastructural development of the livestock market.
The scheme allows livestock marts to apply for a maximum of €5,000 to cover half of expenditure on ICT infrastructure.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine minister, Charlie McConalogue, has confirmed, to Deputy Minister Carol Nolan, just over 60 applications have been processed under the scheme.
Minister Carol Nolan said marts have since received an average payment of €3,961.
He said, “We need to maintain momentum around upgrading ICT infrastructure in all arrears of the rural economy”.
Furthermore he highlighted emphasized that “marts played a pivotal role in keeping the wheels of agriculture turning while ensuring farming communities remained safe during Covid 19.”
Nolan advised farmers to utilize new information communication technologies as well as the traditional means saying they are “good for competition”.
“More people have an opportunity to bid on livestock that could attend a sale on a mart’s premises.”
Meanwhile he encouraged mart workers to uphold Covid-19 regulations of wearing masks when conducting physical sales.
Records show that almost three million sheep and cattle are sold through livestock marts.
LSL News.