Written answers

Tuesday, 27 January 2009

Department of Agriculture and Food

Organic Farming

9:00 pm

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1237: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made on the programme for Government proposal to strengthen support for the organic sector through the REP scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47700/08]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The new Organic Farming Scheme, under the Rural Development Programme 2007 to 2013, aims at encouraging producers to respond to the market demand for organic food. It was launched in August 2007 with a 17% increase in payment rates in line with the Towards 2016 Agreement. One significant change in the new Programme is that organic producers can obtain organic support payments without having to join REPS. This is designed to encourage small-scale horticultural producers to convert to organic production, and also conventional tillage producers to convert part or even all of their holdings. Organic producers will still, of course, be able to join REPS as well, and I will be encouraging them to do so.

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1238: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made on the programme for Government proposal to encourage more direct selling from farmer to customer by restoring and promoting a national network of farmers' markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47701/08]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Bord Bia continually assists producers and market organisers on sales, marketing and product development and its guide on "Alternative Routes to Market" provides action plans and guidelines to assist growers and food entrepreneurs who wish to set up in business through Farmers' Markets, farm shops and box schemes. Bord Bia has also developed the exceptionally successful market in Farmleigh in partnership with the Office of Public Works (OPW), has worked closely with Dublin City Council on the Smithfield market project and sponsored the RTE television series 'Fresh from the Farmers Market' in 2007 and 2008. Filming on the 2008 series featured 16 markets, 24 producers and 8 Feile Bia restaurants from around the country. An all-Ireland St Patrick's Day food market was held in Covent Garden London on 15 and 16 March 2008. Approximately 50 artisan producers took space in the market selling a wide range of produce including farmhouse cheeses, traditional breads, smoked fish, and luxury confectionery.

Bord Bia and Teagasc work closely with the Irish Farmers' Market Traders Association on developing a training course for establishing Farmers Markets and a strategic approach to their development. Teagasc has run 3 training programme for "Direct Selling" designed to meet the needs of traders involved in Farmers' Markets. In January 2008 the Department with support from Bord Bia held a forum for local authorities to discuss local food issues and to promote local authority involvement and support for Farmers' Markets. Presentations were made on examples of local and international farmers markets and on a Bord Bia survey of Farmers' Markets organisers and workshops were held to identify the potential for farmers markets. In July 2008, two groups were established, which are chaired by my Department, to examine, respectively, the development of best practice guidelines and to consider possible statutory guidelines to further the development of farmers markets. The best practice group has engaged in public consultation and placed a call in the National Press inviting submissions from interested parties on what might be included in guidelines. A total of 30 submissions were received and the different views expressed are being examined.

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