New pig fund worth €7m must be "deployed quickly" - IFA
A fund worth €7m for the country's beleaguered pig producers, has been welcomed generally.
Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue made the announcement today after a protracted campaign by pig farmers, a sector that has a very high concentration in Cavan and Monaghan.
In announcing the fund, the minister accepted the suppliers were hit by "unprecedented challenges" due to a combination of low pigmeat prices and extraordinarily high input costs.
The IFA claim that those challenges have seen farmers lose between €35-40 per pig.
President Tim Cullinan said that the funding is an important first step in addressing the current crisis.
“I would acknowledge the efforts of the Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue and his officials and it is important that this funding is deployed quickly and without excessive bureaucracy,” he said.
“Unfortunately, there is no sign of a light at the end of the tunnel on this crisis. While today’s announcement will certainly help it will not be sufficient unless there is an unexpected turn in the market” he said.
Fianna Fáil TD Niamh Smyth described the funding as a "much needed support package for pig farmers across the constituency".
"Prices for inputs such as feed and energy have skyrocketed coinciding with a drop in the price received for pigs from the market.
“Minister McConalogue's support package is worth €20,000 per farmer and will be paid out to all finisher pig farmers who are members of the Bord Bia quality assurance scheme. This is an urgent, short-term response to assist producers that would be viable but for the extreme current circumstances and allow space for a more medium-term adjustment to market signals.”
Scheme details
The fund of €7 million will be distributed through a flat rate payment of a maximum of €20,000 per individual commercial pig farmer sending more than 200 pigs per annum to slaughter. Further details on terms and conditions will be available shortly. Applicants should contact pigscheme@agriculture.gov.ie immediately to provide their contact details, and for further information on how to apply.