The economic turmoil at home and internationally has impacted heavily on the farming and rural sectors, according to the former Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture and Food, John Malone.
Addressing the National Rural Network annual conference in Croke Park yesterday (Tuesday 1 December), John Malone said the rural sector has suffered the double blow of depressed farm incomes and a big reduction in off-farm employment, which had become a significant and growing component of farming and rural income over the past decade.
John Malone told the conference, which was organised by the National Rural Network at the Tipperary Institute, that the collapse in construction has had a major impact on off-farm employment, which has declined by more than one-third over the past 12 months. In addition, the international recession has severely affected world demand for food, resulting in big reductions in incomes, particularly for dairy and tillage farmers.
“Prospects for the agri-food sector are intricately linked to the wider economy. Therefore, farmers have as much to gain from stabilising the public finances and getting the banking system working effectively as any other sector,” said John Malone.
He said exports will be the key driver of economic recovery and the agri-food sector will be centre stage in this process.
John Malone said the escalating demand for agricultural education in the midst of the current difficulties was an indication of the confidence of young people in the medium and long term viability of the agri-food sector. The number of participants in agricultural education is currently at its highest level in more than two decades. This will ensure that the industry will have the intellectual capacity to compete internationally.
He stressed that the agri-food sector must plug in to the wider cross-cutting issues that will be central components of policy both in Ireland and the EU. In particular, the sector needs to broaden its horizon and encompass issues such as climate change, the environment and the drive for increased competitiveness.
Comments are open at the bottom for you to add your thoughts. Any and all input welcomed.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
This is very interesting and useful, can John Malone’s presentation be viewed online or downloaded from your website?
Thanks for your help!
Helen.
Hi Helen,
Thanks for the comment. You can find John’s presentation, and all the others, on the proceedings page http://www.nrn.ie/conference09/proceedings/. Please feel free to leave a comment on the proceedings page if you wish.
Kind regards,
John