Farmers 'want to do their bit to combat climate change' - SF
New research from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has shown that Irish farmers "want to do their bit" to combat climate change, according to Sinn Féin's agriculture spokesperson.
Sligo-Leitrim TD Martin Kenny said that farmers "will continue" to step up to the plate and do what is necessary and required of them.
He was responding to a survey from the ESRI that found that farmers and the general public appear to be "equally worried" about climate change.
"It is no surprise that farmers are worried about climate change and are prepared to adapt their farming practices to help reduce emissions, which they have been doing for years now," Kenny said.
"Going back to 1994 when the first Rural Environmental [Protection] Scheme [REPS] was introduced, which farmers willingly entered into, which was hugely successful in protecting rivers and watercourses as well as planting trees and hedgerows."
"Irish farmers have continued to participate in environmental schemes as part the Common Agricultural Policy [CAP]... Farmers have had to face many challenges, mainly the inefficiency of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in rolling out the [Agri Climate Rural Environment Scheme] and implementing it," Kenny added.
The TD said that farmers "have faced all these challenges and overcome them".
"As a result, I believe Irish farming is doing its best, working to combat climate change," he added.
He cited investments that farmers are making that are linked to decreasing environmental impact, including low-emissions slurry spreading (LESS), and installing solar panels on the roofs of agricultural sheds.
"Irish farmers know more about climate change than any other Irish industry as they consistently have to work with it and around it, whether it is knowing when the best time is to cut their silage, or sow barley. The weather determines when and how farmers do their work on a daily basis," Kenny said.
He added: "It must be remembered though that all the work on a farm goes towards producing food, and that food, is sold at below cost of production. It is only through...CAP and agri-schemes like ACRES that allows farmers to produce and sell their produce below cost of production."
The TD said farmers "cannot be scapegoated and blamed for climate change".
"It may sound good that we move towards a plant-based diet but practically and realistically this is not going to happen."
"Irish farming is doing its part and I believe that if other countries were to adopt the standards that we have in Ireland it would help to further combat climate change," Kenny said.
