FIGURES PROVE FARMING IS NO LONGER VIABLE

UUP Assembly member David McClarty is warning that agriculture is no longer sustainable in the area, if the latest farm income figures are reliable. The MLA says that while the Department of Agriculture’s provisional figures show that the total income from farming rose by 4.9 per cent to £185m across the Province last year, subsidies paid out totalled £227m. Councillor McClarty said: “With the move away from the Single Farm Payment beginning what is likely to be a vast reduction in subsidy payments, it begs the question: Is farming now viable? “I am extremely concerned that in real terms there is now a massive deficit between what is being earned through agriculture and the level of sustainability. “The industry’s true potential to sustain households in this area if subsidies evaporate is graphically illustrated by these latest figures. The simple fact is that the majority would now be unable to keep their heads above water. “On the surface the figures paint a rosy picture with incomes up for the third successive year but the Single Farm Payment subsidy was worth £227m which DARD itself admits contributes to some of the improvement figures. “Based on DARD’s figures, incomes would actually show a significant loss - somewhere in the region of £42m overall without subsidy payments.” Cllr. McClarty added: “The figures are worrying as they indicate the very real difficulties the industry in general has been facing over the past number of years and while the warnings have been many and vociferous, little has been done by Government to counteract what has translated itself into an alarming decline. “While there are encouraging signs over output in the milk sector, the situation in other areas of production is grim particularly where pigs, poultry, sheep and eggs are concerned. When all that is taken together with a decline of a third in the potato sector and a quarter in the value of barley, it paints a decidedly gloomy picture. “Production costs are steadily rising in all areas and it is clear that without subsidies the industry is unsustainable. “How long can those depending on the industry for a living expect to be subsidised? How long will they want to remain in farming knowing that the future is so bleak. “There is absolutely no incentive for young people to take up the reins on our farms after their parents. That is a damning indictment on the state of agriculture here. “Not so very long ago the industry was a major employer across the Province, strong, confident and providing reliable jobs for many people. Today it is on the brink of near extinction.”

03 Feb 2006 by Editor 1639 comments