|
IFA President John Bryan has said that the outcome of the
nitrates review has the potential to make or break the Government’s
Food Harvest 2020 growth strategy for the agri-food
sector, which is essential to national economic recovery,
exports and job creation.
Mr Bryan stressed the interdependency of the different sectors
in Irish agriculture - saying that sustainable growth in dairying,
livestock, pigs and poultry is critically linked to a secure
supply of indigenous feed grain from the tillage sector and
the recycling of organic fertilisers.
“The nitrates review must provide a platform for viable growth
for each sector to achieve the Food Harvest 2020 targets -
including 50% increased output from the dairy sector, a 20%
increase in beef and 50% growth from pigs. To achieve these
targets, the review must eliminate excessive costs and restrictions
that are holding back the growth potential of each sector.
While the continuation of the 250kg Org N derogation for
the dairy and livestock farmers and the roll-over of the phosphorous
provision for the pig and poultry producers are essential,
we also need to restore competitiveness in the tillage sector.
Excessive restrictions over winter ploughing, green cover
and nitrogen application rates have to be removed as they
have reduced yields and resulted in the sector losing competitiveness
compared to the UK.
"Policymakers need to recognise the economic value of
organic fertilisers from the pigs sector for grassland farmers,
who can secure higher productivity while saving on input costs
and substituting imported chemical fertiliser," John
Bryan concluded.
|
