The recently announced Knowledge Transfer Programme has received major criticism from the IFA.

Last week, Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney announced the rollout of €100m worth of funding for 27,000 farmers to participate in discussion groups and other knowledge-transfer methods.

According to the Department of Agriculture, the measure involves Department-approved knowledge exchange groups operating over a three-year period with farmer meetings involving the exchange of information and best practices facilitated by qualified advisers.

Advisers will also assist participating farmers in the completion of a tailored farm improvement plan that will address issues such as profitability, sustainability, herd health and farm safety.

IFA rural development chairman Flor McCarthy said that the payment structure between advisers and farmers is counterproductive.

“The IFA had already expressed serious concern with regard to the payment structure and mechanism in earlier discussions with the Department of Agriculture. The split of payment of €750/€500 between the farmers and the facilitators is wrong and should be weighted more heavily towards the farmer,” McCarthy said.

Danger

“The payment mechanism through the facilitator is fraught with danger as it removes the traditional direct payment system to the farmer from the Department of Agriculture. IFA will be insisting that the Department of Agriculture monitor this new process as it is open to manipulation with farmers being put in a very weak position with regard to the normal farmers/facilitator/planner relationship,” McCarthy added.