A Cork south west TD is calling on the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) to retool its agri-environment pilot scheme, with the farm payment scheme in its initial proposed form.
The Programme for Government commits to rewarding farmers for adapting to more sustainable methods of farming and to the development of a new agri-environment scheme capable of delivering broad environmental and biodiversity benefits that will align financial supports with climate objectives.
Funding for agri-environment pilot scheme
To advance this government objective, funding has been made available for 2021 for a results-based agri-environment pilot project.
According to deputy Christopher O’Sullivan, the scheme’s base payments – an average of €4,700 on a farmer’s first 10ha and a maximum of €7,000 – are too low to entice farmers to participate in environmental and biodiversity protection initiatives.
“It needs to be higher. This results-based scheme has to be meaningful and worthwhile for farmers so they afford to participate,” deputy O’Sullivan said.
Base payment of €10,000
Deputy O’Sullivan called for a base payment of €10,000, with further payments based on environmental results in addition to this.
“Bottom line, we want farmers involved in biodiversity and environmental protection,” O’Sullivan said.
“The current rates of pay that are being suggested are not enough, and my fear is it won’t entice farmers into the scheme.”
Deputy O’Sullivan also called for certainty over the future of the scheme, with its budget not yet confirmed and what he describes as “little indication” of the number of farmers who can participate.
He said the scheme must be open to all farmers not currently in the Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS).
“We have to make farming a viable source of income particularly in west Cork where farmland is very marginal,” the deputy said.
“We have introduced a carbon tax in order to achieve environmental objectives. Farmers need to get dividends and this should be done through a comprehensive, well financed agri-environment scheme.
“We have to look at the bigger picture. A major upshot is money being targeted to farmers, which means it will be spent in the local shop, the local co-op. That means benefits for the local community.”