DEAR SIR: I write to you in relation to your article “What future do farmers want for farming?” History has not been kind to Irish farming by having various strategies prescribed upon them. Successive governments have led initiatives designed by industry chiefs to boost Irish agri exports.

“Pathways for Growth and Food Harvest 2020” is essential reading for anyone who wants to source the origins of Irish agriculture’s problems.

Rationalisation and consolidation, leading to reduced competition while encouraging co-operation and competition among competitors, has created the system we have today. When privately owned processors and retailers are driving forces behind such planning, their own agenda will be their primary focus.

A system where the full backing of the Government, through financial aid, farmer-prescribed Bord Bia quality assurance schemes and a primary target market of the UK (where Irish processors are the dominant players), has created multi-million euro fortunes for these individuals.

The Irish constitution states that every person is entitled to an adequate livelihood and that nobody has the right to take control of essential commodities.

Economic law states that price shall be dictated by supply and demand – when supply can be controlled by unfair trading practices and factory-owned feedlots, the price can be manipulated. This goes against our constitution. The structures that have been built by these companies over 30 years must be changed.

We have left the fox minding the hen house. Furthermore, selling below the cost of production will not create a future for Irish farming.