Marian Harkin, MEP
DONEGAL hill farmers have joined a new national association backed by MEP Marian Harkin.
When some farmers receive payments per hectare which are a multiple of these received by others, questions have to be raised about how the ‘greening’ element of the Common Agricultural Policy is being implemented, said Harkin.
She addressed farmers at the official launch of the Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association in Westport on Friday.
It was questions such as this, and perceived failure by other representatives of farmers to protect the interests of natura and hill farmers, that led to the creation of the INHFA, she said.
Lack of adequate representation was at the heart of why 5,000 farmers had decided that representation of their particular needs was vital to the future of their farm enterprises required a new body to promote their interests.
“The greening payments structure, where one farmer is paid €220 per ha and another €50 per ha, is a travesty of justice and is part of a pattern which had to be changed, the Independent MEP said.
She had worked closely with those who had been central to the creation of the INHFA in organising the meetings in Brussels which laid the base for positive changes in policy in relation to hill and commonage farmers, she said.
This had been a very positive start for the new organisation and the challenge now to its members was to give full support for the mandate they had given the INHFA to press the case for them against a background of future pressure on the CAP budget, she stressed.
The INHFA would thrive if the full and continued support of members was sustained and, for her part, she would continue to facilitate the meetings with officials in Brussels which were vital to obtaining fairness in developing policy for all farmers into the future.