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ANC payments need to be directed more towards the most severely handicapped areas was the recurring point at Monday night’s IFA west Cork ANC meeting.
West Cork IFA chair Cornie Buckley opened the meeting by saying current payments need to be retained and increased in areas that need it most.
The IFA west Cork catchment is made up predominantly of designated mountain severely handicapped and less severely handicapped and a significant proportion of those in attendance were hill farmers.
No difference for those with severely disadvantaged land
IFA rural development executive Gerry Gunning told attendees that in the event of land being redesignated, payments won’t be lost overnight, but they will be scaled back gradually.
There was a frustration from hill farmers that there was no great deal of difference at the moment between payments for severely disadvantaged mountain land and less disadvantaged areas. This was a recurring theme for the night.
Hill farmers said that it takes effort and expense to look after that land and if there was any hope of keeping the next-generation farming alive in these areas than payments would have to be increased. As a member of the audience said, “a bigger gap is required as currently it is not equitable or fair.”
Another farmer recalled that when reviews were taking place to create the current CAP model, the IFA hierarchy had said that when disadvantaged areas came up for review, that would be the chance for hill farmers to gain higher payments. This was the carrot held out to appease those who lost out by getting small single farm payments and now was the time for the organisation to follow up on its word.
Poor land in all counties
Gerry Gunning constantly reminded those present that there was pockets of poor land in all counties. It was a hard sell to those in Bantry and it won’t be easy to keep all members happy in this campaign.
Politically the meeting was well attended with MEP Liadh Ní Riada present, as well as the three TDs from the constituency, including Margaret Murphy O’Mahony, Michael Collins and Jim Daly, as well Senator Tim Lombard.
The side issues of the Heritage Bill and farmer frustration with how politicians have dealt with the payment of water were given a good airing on the night.
Listen to “Voices at the IFA's ANC meeting in west Cork” on Spreaker.
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