Northern Ireland’s farms are set to benefit from a further £800 of government money each as the agriculture minister flexes his department’s new independence in the wake of Brexit.
The payments, which act as an annual subsidy for farmers and which have previously been paid by the European Union, are a critical part in boosting the coffers of farmers in Northern Ireland, but have been criticised as supporting inefficient farms.
Edwin Poots said the Basic Payment Scheme budget, now under his watch, will be increased by £15.49 million this year, a figure which works out at an average uplift in support of £800 for each farm and a 6.29% uplift overall.
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It comes following the minister’s announcement of a 4.3% uplift last year.
He said the latest increase is in part due to the ongoing rise in the cost of farm inputs, such as feed and fertiliser.
“This will be a welcome boost and is vitally important given the ongoing increases in the cost of farm inputs,” Mr Poots said, speaking at a reception at the Balmoral Show.
The minister also said he was lobbying for a change in in the Northern Ireland protocol which he described as unacceptable and unworkable.
“It is clearly evident that current arrangements are disrupting our normal trade processes, creating barriers to the free movement of goods, including plants, trees, cereal seeds, pets as well as breeding livestock within the 海角视频, and placing unnecessary and unacceptable burdens on both my Department and businesses alike, and I can assure you that I have made every possible representation to ensure that 海角视频 and EU decision makers fully understand the consequences of the existing arrangements.”
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Despite that, he felt Northern Ireland agriculture has a positive future.
“The industrial revolution played a huge part in our economic prosperity, the future is an evolution in green agriculture through innovation. As we have proven over the last 100 years, agriculture is adaptive and resilient to change.
“The next 100 years will be no different. My role is to encourage, even drive the agenda and support the next revolution.”