Eighty-four per cent of young farmers think agriculture co-ops are needed for their own future in farming, new research has found.
Launched by Minister of State for Food Andrew Doyle, the research carried out on behalf of FRS looked at the attitudes of young farmers to agriculture co-operatives.
A further 94% of young farmers consider co-ops as important for the future of Irish farming.
Some 655 young farmers took part in the research.
It found the level of involvement of young farmers in co-ops is variable and that while young farmers may trade and engage with cooperatives, not many are shareholders or are actively involved in co-ops.
Research results
On the back of the research, the National Co-op Farm Relief Service (NCFRS) is now worried about the transfer of shares to young farmers and the small amount of involvement they have in cooperatives.
Imperative
Francis Fitzgerald who is the NCFRS chair said: “It is imperative that young farmers become involved in the co-op movement as both shareholders, board and committee members. Every co-op has a duty to actively encourage share transfer to younger farmers.”
Peter Byrne, CEO of the FRS Network, welcomed the research: “We need to take positive steps to encourage and support young farmers to become actively involved in their local co-operatives both as shareholders and board members.”
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