Farm incomes slip to £88 a week

It has been revealed that the average farm in Northern Ireland is operating on £88 per week, according to figures released by the Department of Agriculture today.

According to the department, last year's poor prices and the effects of the adverse weather in Northern Ireland during much of 2002 were mostly responsible for the downturn.

NIO Agriculture Minister Ian Pearson said that the income figures were "disappointing" but would come as "no surprise to those in the industry".

"There are some mildly encouraging signs at present, particularly the firming of milk prices in recent weeks; also, the significant strengthening of the euro relative to sterling, which should lead both to increased support prices and higher rates of direct payments," he said.

"Nevertheless, agriculture remains under financial pressure and I acknowledge that it is a difficult time for farmers and their families to face further uncertainty arising from the EU Commission's detailed Mid-term Review proposals published last week."

Mr Pearson pledged to ensure that the interests of Northern Ireland agriculture were properly represented at the EC.

The Ulster Unionist agriculture spokesman George Savage said that warnings about the decline of the farming industry have been made over the past two years. He said that a Fair Price Commission was the best way to tackle the problem and that he would be making strong representations to the Minister.

Mr Savage added: "Our farmers are fed up listening, they have articulated their case often through protests and campaigns such as ‘CARE’ but there seems to be nobody listening in the corridors of power.

“The government must ensure that it is not hoodwinked in all this with the French and other nations wriggling out of their responsibilities while farmers in the UK are left to shoulder the burden with rigid implementation of EU proposals.”

The SDLP's John Dallat slammed the Minister as a "puppet on the farm" and said that the institutions must be restored at once to deal effectively with the plight of the farmers.

"An all-island strategy on animal health and the resources and determination to wipe out animal diseases is of critical importance," he said.

"Equally important is the commitment to modernise the department of agriculture, cutting wherever possible, unnecessary waste to ensure that money is spent in development rather than bureaucracy and unnecessary red tape.

"None of this is possible while the direct rulers are in situ not wanting to be here and certainly have no desire to rattle the cages of their political masters in London."

(GMcG)