Written answers

Tuesday, 31 March 2015

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Agricultural Production

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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349. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he expects agricultural production to increase throughout each sector in the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13356/15]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Targets for agri-food growth were set out in Food Harvest 2020 and I am confident that they are fully achievable over the next five years. As the deputy is aware, the main targets in the Food Harvest report are, by 2020, to increase the value of:

-Primary output in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector by 33%

-Agriculture, food (including seafood) and drink exports by 42%

-Value added production by 40%;

Progress on these targets is monitored and reviewed on an ongoing basis and the most recent data indicates that the value of primary production had almost reached its target by 2014, up 31% compared to the 33% target; exports had grown by 27%, also by 2014, compared to their 2020 growth target of 42%; and GVA had grown by 29%, by 2012 (the most recent year’s data), compared with the target of 40%. In addition, Food Harvest 2020 also had set a target of increasing the volume of dairy production by 50% by 2020, the removal of the milk quota limits from tomorrow will allow milk levels to increase by that amount over the next five years.

Based on these statistics, all targets are currently well on track to be achieved over the next five years.

Nonetheless, I regard it as prudent to continually review the internal and external environment so that we will continue to maximise the opportunities available to this indigenous sector. To that end, I have appointed a 2025 Agri-Food Strategy Committee to report back to me by end June with any key recommendations and actions they consider necessary to allow us set ever more challenging goals for the longer term.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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351. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he proposes to take, in conjunction with his European Union colleagues, to protect the concept of the viability of the family farm enterprise throughout Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13358/15]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The drive to intensify agricultural production and improve competitiveness implies some degree of structural change in farming. However this need not imply a move away from family farming, which has always been the backbone of the European model of agriculture. On the contrary, in my view, structural change is vital to ensure that our family based farming systems continue into the future – with fewer farms, but farms that are stronger in terms of economic viability, production efficiency and long-term sustainability.

Our vision must be to undertake food production and distribution in a manner that is sustainable in all its dimensions – economically, socially and environmentally. This is directly linked with the production of important public goods such as an attractive landscape, clean air and water and a vibrant rural economy. And family farms are the bedrock for achieving these added benefits.

The challenge therefore is to ensure that our family farms are supported so that they are competitive and productive on the one hand and so that they can deliver these added environmental and social objectives on the other.

The reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, agreed in 2013, provides this support and stability into the future. The Direct Payments system allows farmers to respond to the needs of the market while retaining some income stability. CAP Pillar 2 allows Member States to underpin the socio-economic development of our farms – improving competitiveness and sustainability and encouraging positive structural change. And the overarching flexibility incorporated into the reform allows these measures to be tailored to local needs, which is crucial in supporting the diversity of farming across the Union.

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