Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D., has thanked Donegal farmers, fishers and food producers for all their work in keeping food on our tables and in our restaurants and shops this year.
In a festive message, the Minister said: “2022 has been a year of immense challenge for our great agri-food sector. The illegal invasion of Ukraine has resulted in significant difficulties for our primary producers. Most notably, input prices have spiked as a result of major disruptions to supply chains. I thank all farmers and fishers in Donegal for everything they did this year.”
Minister McConalogue visits a Brussels Sprouts Farm
He continued: “Both the Government and I moved quickly to support our sectors. I introduced a series of targeted supports worth €91m including the €1,000/farm family Fodder Support Scheme and the €400/ha Tillage Incentive Scheme for farmers. I designed these in order to support our farm families produce enough animal feed for the winter while also building resilience around imported feed. These €91m in supports have supported our farm families and I will continue to support them in the time ahead. For our fishers and fishing families, I delivered on the schemes outlined in the Seafood Sector Taskforce Report to protect our sector.”
In the run up to Christmas, the Minister paid thanks to all of those who keep the wheels of our €13.5bn export sector turning, the farmers, fishers and food producers who are the lifeblood of the sector and of rural Ireland.
Commenting the Minister said, “I thank all farmers and fishers in Donegal for everything they did this year. Despite all the challenges, there is a strong and vibrant future for the sector. Primary producers have shown great resilience and have continued to keep world class food on our tables. I thank those who milk the cows, lamb the ewes, till the crops, catch the fish all with the aim of feeding people here and in over 180 markets across the globe with safe, sustainable and nutritious food.”
Looking to 2023, Minister McConalogue said he will continue to support primary producers.
“We are living in a new reality where environmental sustainability is at the core of everything we do. That is why we are being guided by the industry-led Food Vision 2030 roadmap which will help us reach our climate ambitious. However, at the core of everything I do is ensuring that as well as environmental sustainability we have societal and financial sustainability too.
“2023 will be a year of change but I will continue to back everyone in the sector.”
