The new horticulture development scheme has been described as “essential for the continued development and competitiveness of the Irish horticulture sector”, by a horticulture lobby group chairman.
The Irish Farmers’ Association’s (IFA’s) Horticulture Committee chairman Paul Brophy has welcomed the recent launch of the 2019 Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector.
The scheme was officially opened on Wednesday, October 31, by the Minister of State for Food, Forestry and Horticulture, Andrew Doyle.
Brophy said: “Ireland’s horticulture sector currently contributes over €430 million to the value of output at farm-gate level.
“The sector is estimated to be directly responsible for over 6,600 jobs, with many more employed indirectly both upstream and downstream.”
“The support and flexibilities of the scheme has been key to the survival of many enterprises which had been severely affected by the freak events,” according to Brophy.
Additional funding
Brophy also acknowledged the allocation of an extra €1 million to the annual budget for the 2019 scheme by the minister, which he outlined that the IFA had campaigned for as part of its pre-budget submission.
The horticulture chairman concluded by outlining the challenges ahead for the horticulture sector saying: It continues to face severe challenges due to Brexit, rising input costs and unsustainable discounting.
He called for the Government to ensure the horticulture development scheme continues into the future post 2019.