Minister announces aid package for beef industry

Agriculture Minister Jeff Rooker has announced new measures worth around £1.3 million to assist Northern Ireland's beef industry.

The Minister explained that the package of measures announced for England in October will be replicated in Northern Ireland to help address the particular challenges facing the beef sector at present.

He said that Northern Ireland will receive £1.2 million as its share of a UK-wide Beef Market Restoration Programme, which will run over the next three years. This will focus on ensuring the continued confidence of UK consumers in beef, following the reintroduction of over-thirty-month cattle into the food chain, and on building new market opportunities after the ending of the beef export ban.

The Minister said: "Northern Ireland beef producers and processors will benefit from a substantial programme of activity over the next three years, which matches or goes beyond the work being undertaken in England through its Red Meat Industry Forum. The focus of this work is on improving the competitiveness of the whole supply chain.

"Under the Fit for Market initiative, DARD, along with Invest NI, is taking forward a number of initiatives to help Northern Ireland producers and processors identify and exploit new export opportunities. The programme is worth £4.5 million over the next three years and, while not confined to the beef industry, it should produce significant benefits for the sector."

Around £75,000 will also come to Northern Ireland as its share of the proposed Beef Better Returns Programme. The content of this programme is still under consideration and will be finalised in time for introduction next year.

The Minister noted that, while there is no direct equivalent to the Red Meat Industry Forum in Northern Ireland, similar initiatives are being pursued directly through the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD).

(MB/GB)