A local MEP believes young farmers must be guaranteed a future in agriculture through proper government planning now.
Midlands Northwest MEP Chris MacManus, recently visited Ballyhaise Agricultural College in Co. Cavan, where he and party colleague Cllr Paddy McDonald met with John Kelly the College's Principal. The visit was part of an Agri-focused week of engagements for Mr MacManus throughout the Midlands Northwest constituency and speaking after the visit the Sinn Fein MEP spoke of a need to guarantee a future for young farmers. He said generational renewal in Irish Agriculture is something he often highlights both here at home and at an EU level. The local MEP highlighted half of the agricultural population in the EU will reach retirement age within the next ten years and this percentage is particularly concerning, at a time where the price of land for sale or rent is so inflated
He added that the EU and the Irish government need to explore all options on the table to give priority to family famers as well as new and young farmers to ease access to land. More state support is needed to ensure land mobilityto nurture generational renewal.
