July 19, 2010

ICMSA welcome 2020 Report but say proposed volume of milk increase is 'very optimistic' and say all depends on viable farmer income

Commenting on the launch of the 2020 Report, the ICMSA President, Jackie Cahill, said that while it was welcome and could serve as a blueprint for the sector, the danger was that the aspirations and recommendations contained within the Report would remain just that – aspirations and recommendations – unless they were backed up by real action and investment. In relation to the proposed increase in milk output, Mr Cahill said that ICMSA considered the proposed volume of increase to be very optimistic and the organisation also stressed that any such increase in output could only be achieved based on a viable milk price that returned an income to farmers commensurate with the amount of work and investment required. Mr Cahill said that he thought it would be difficult to finance and implement the €400 million investment the Report estimated to be required. And although he did not want to appear negative about the plan – on the grounds that that was too easy and served no purpose – Mr Cahill said it would be equally facile to blindly welcome recommendations without 'factoring in' the realities for the farmers upon whom the whole future of the sector ultimately rested. They were the ones, stressed Mr Cahill, who would be doing the work and making the investments.

 

Initially, as least, the plan would provide some focus for the Department and the various agencies to develop policy that recognised that farm income was the crucial component if the sector was to be 'geared-up'.

 

Ends.     19 July 2010.

 

Jackie Cahill, 087-2820663

President, ICMSA.

Or

Cathal MacCarthy, 087-6168758

ICMSA Press Office  

 

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