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The Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) are to hold a protest to highlight the need for a fodder aid scheme that will deliver for farmers who are experiencing fodder shortages.
National president of the INHFA Colm O’Donnell outlined how the Minister has ignored the principal recommendation of the stakeholders committee which was for a meal voucher.
While O’Donnell said the transport subsidy “was also recommended”, he said its restrictive nature has ensured it will “not deliver for most farmers”.
The INHFA decision which was taken by its national council, will involve a protest at the Department of Agriculture Offices in Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim next Monday 12 February starting at 10.30am.
Struggling
O’Donnell said that it will “provide the many farmers that are struggling with fodder shortages the opportunity to highlight how inadequate the current proposals are in dealing with this crisis.”
Last month’s announcement on the transport subsidy is “a piecemeal attempt to sort a crisis that is deteriorating on a daily basis", according to O'Donnell.
He said: "The protest on Monday will call for the immediate introduction of a meal voucher and the extension of the transport subsidy to licensed hauliers who have for years been providing hay and straw to farmers in the west and northwest.”
O’Donnell concluded by issuing a call to all those experiencing fodder shortages to “come on Monday and send a message to the Minister and his officials that what’s on offer will have to be improved on if further actions are to be avoided.”
The move to protest comes after it was claimed on Wednesday that a number of counties were to be excluded form the fodder transport scheme.
The Department of Agriculture is yet to clarify these reports.
SHARING OPTIONS: