Aid for Ulster Pig Farmers calls
01 March 2008
Jim Allister MEP has urged DARD to do more for hard-pressed Ulster pig farmers. His calls came as official data revealed that the Northern Ireland pig herd had declined by 8% in the past year.
The Traditional Unionist MEP said,
“I can’t help but compare the stark contrast in aid that has been made available to pig farmers in other EU Member States, with the situation that exists in Northern Ireland. In France, a further 6 Million Euros has been added to what was already a 33 Million Euro emergency aid package, announced at the end of 2007, to provide crisis loans and interest payments for French pig farmers. This week, the Commission approved a special national support programme for farmers in Southern Finland, including an income aid for pig and poultry farmers.”
“Like their European counterparts, Northern Ireland pig farmers have also been struggling to cope with higher feed and other input costs, with minimal cost recovery from the market. All our industry has got so far is a commitment from DARD to co-fund a review of the pig sector. It is not reviews which our farmers need, it is the types of emergency aid being availed of in other Member States as a result of hard negotiation by National Governments.”
“An 8% decline in the pig herd is confirmation of the pressure the local pig sector is under. I would hope this will trigger a much more urgent reaction from the Executive to provide the type of practical assistance which is available to pig farmers in other Member States.”
ENDS
