Ms Niamh Brennan:

Growers have consolidated and those left in business have been forced to scale up as much as possible. This year, it is expected the overall acreage will reduce by 7%, at a minimum, of field vegetables. Up to now, they have sustained to a certain degree the acreage but we are at such a stage now that it will be reduced by 7% this year, as projected by Teagasc.