Monitoring Round little comfort for Farmers -Allister
16 December 2008
Jim Allister MEP has said farmers expecting a generous financial package to compensate for the poor weather conditions experienced this Autumn, have been left badly disappointed by the Executive.
“Take, for example the announcement of an additional £20m to the Farm Nutrient Management Scheme, the MEP commented… these ‘additional’ funds are only necessary to attempt to fill the gaping black hole created by the Executive in the first place, as a result of it’s blunder of committing £90 million to the scheme on the security of grossly overvalued DARD owned land at Crossnacreevy –it later transpiring that instead of being valued at £200 million, its true value is nearer £6 million. Even before today’s announcement, the Executive had assured all successful scheme applicants that they would receive the 60% grant aid to which they were entitled.”
“The allocation of £500,000 as a ‘hardship payment’ to some farmers affected by August’s flash floods is a miserly gesture. 11% of the total potato crop, and 14% of the cereal crop was destroyed, at a total loss of £870,000 according to DARD’s own figures. On top of this are the additional losses suffered due to the protracted wet weather during September and October, which the Executive has failed to factor in to this compensation claim.”
“This package is a missed opportunity for the Executive to provide real support to Northern Ireland agriculture. Farmers will be extremely disappointed at the lack of support they have received from this Executive to date, and the shambolic management of their interests under devolution, which has become all too apparent in recent weeks.”
ENDS
