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Increasing the State aid limit for farmers from €15,000 to €25,000 is an important first step to help with what could be facing farmers in terms of Brexit, but more funding would be needed, the IFA president Joe Healy has said.
Aid must go to farmers and not be gobbled up by others in the supply chain
On Friday, the European Commission announced that it would increase the limit on State aid for farmers from €15,000 to €25,000 to help them cope with the effects of a no-deal Brexit.
Scenario
However, Healy said in a no-deal Brexit, State aid limited to €8,300 per year will not be enough given the losses that farmers have already encountered and will be facing in such a scenario.
Such is the scale of the losses from a Brexit crash-out, the European Commission will have to be the primary source of funds for a Brexit emergency support package, he warned.
Uncertainty
With the uncertainty around Brexit and the danger of unprecedented losses for farming and the agriculture sector, the IFA said that a limit cannot be put on support at this time.
Healy said proposals had been put to the Government and the Commission from the association for a comprehensive package of market supports and direct aid for farmers.
“We need to see much more urgency from the Minister and clarity on the details of exactly what mechanisms will be applied. Aid must go to farmers and not be gobbled up by others in the supply chain,” he said.
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