The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
‘Keep your eye on CAP’, IFA warns
THE government must keep its eye on the ball when it comes to CAP, despite the huge focus currently place on Brexit. That’s according to IFA President Joe Healy, who said the Depatment of Agriculture and the EU Commissioner Phil Hogan cannot lose sight of the importance of the CAP budget and keeping it high up the EU’s agenda.
“There has rarely been a political issue which has absorbed the Irish and EU political systems like Brexit, but running alongside this is the EU budgetary process for the seven years after 2020,” Mr Healy said. “The Taoiseach and Government must keep their eyes firmly on this ball as well.
“Farmers need an increase in the CAP Budget to at least keep pace with inflation, and to support farmers for any additional measures they will be expected to take on as part of the new CAP,” he said.
The proposed EU budget, which was outlined in May proposes increases through higher contributions from the Member States.
But it’s proposed to cut the CAP budget by five per cent before inflation, which the IFA has explained could see the cut effectively being 15 per cent under the proxy EU inflation rate.
“This would have a devastating effect on the low-income farming sectors which are very dependent on CAP payments,” Mr Healy said.
“Average farm incomes are 40 per cent of average earnings in other sectors across the EU. On cattle rearing and sheep farms, direct payments account for up to 115 per cent of average farm income.”