It’s putting the cart before the horse if the Department pushes ahead with imposing a new TB programme on farmers without any agreement on the key financial issues, IFA animal health chair Pat Farrell has said.

“In developing any programme or business plan, the first issue to be addressed is always the funding.

“This is no different for the TB programme,” Farrell said.

“It’s a fundamental requirement that this issue is resolved.

“It’s not credible to seek to finalise a programme without sight of the resources that will be available to it.”

The IFA has called for the financial technical working group to be convened and the issues of funding of the programme and financial supports to be addressed.

New approach

Farrell said the cost-benefit analysis review of the programme must be concluded at this stage.

“This process commenced a year ago. [The] IFA was informed in November the first draft was nearing completion, but farmer members of the TB Forum have not received any details.”

Farrell also highlights the past ‘top-down approach’ strategy from the Department of Agriculture in the TB programme.

“The new strategy must deliver on its commitments in this regard and ensure the views of farmers, who are the only stakeholder that will be impacted by these decisions, are taken on board.

“The Minister for Agriculture has given clear commitments that this will no longer be the approach and farmers will be provided with respectful and meaningful engagement in all aspects of the TB programme.”