4 years on – Food Harvest 2020 targets must be met – Kirk

Commenting on the 4th anniversary of the launch of Food Harvest 2020 Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Horticulture and Rural Affairs Seamus Kirk TD has called on the Government to prioritise meeting the Food Harvest 2020 targets.

He commented: “Figures provided in response to a Parliamentary Question I put down to the Minister for Agriculture show progress being made in the Food Harvest 2020 targets. It is now four years since the ambitious plan was made by the previous Government and Ireland is making real strides forward across all sectors. In particular the dairy sector and overall exports are surging ahead generating billions in additional revenue.

“The major investment in both on farm facilities and broader industrial capacity over the past decade has enabled our largest indigenous industry to grow and expand. It’s vital that the Government continues to provide targeted investment into the industry to ensure we can sustain the progress and provide badly needed employment in rural Ireland.

“The current crisis in the beef sector, reduction in CAP funding and loss of funds under the rural development programme all threaten to undermine the Food Harvest 2020 targets. The Government cannot afford to rest on its laurels, agriculture is too important to the rural economy.

“Minister Coveney has to fight to protect the agricultural budget and make sure farmers are fully supported in achieving Food Harvest 2020,” Deputy Kirk concluded.