The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) have insisted that the Department of Agriculture must complete the Areas of Natural Constraint review in a fair and transparent manner that compensates the areas with the highest level of natural constraint when setting rates per hectare.
The INHFA President Colm O’Donnell stated that “while the scientific review has vindicated that supports are necessary in the areas already identified in the existing scheme by the DAFM. The current methodology in setting the level of compensation based on Standard Output (SO) per hectare doesn’t reflect fairly the severity of areas with multiple biophysical constraints.” O’ Donnell continued by stating “this review of the ANC was in part called for because of the unequal treatment of some farmers in receipt of Compensatory payments in the scheme and the review must now finally address this imbalance. Member states must provide in their CAP Strategic Plans calculations that are adequate and accurate and established on a fair, equitable and verifiable method processed by a body functionally independent from those implementing the plan. Our position is to retain the Mountain Grazing area (MSG) as the Priority 1 category with meaningful targeting that reflects the severity of the multiple constraints experienced in these areas.”
The INHFA leader finished by saying that ” we are currently consulting with our membership and a National Rally is organised for the 7th of December at the Knockranny House Hotel, Westport, Co Mayo starting at 8pm sharp. “
