Now time to restore ‘lost’ ANC Payments

NO farmer in the West of Ireland should suffer any reduction in their ANC (Areas of Natural Constraint) payments following the latest EU review of the scheme that’s now almost completed, according to Galway IFA Chairperson, Anne Mitchell.

She told the Farming Tribune that instead the priority for the Minister for Agriculture must be to restore ANC payment levels to what they were before the financial crash that brought about major cuts in the monies paid to West of Ireland farmers.

“For 2018, we have managed to secure a €25 million increase in the payments but that still leaves us €73 million short of where we were before the financial crisis.

“This in incredibly important money for farmers in the West of Ireland who are at the very edge of economic survival: while we did endure the cuts in tougher financial times, the time is now right to restore the ANCs to their old level of payments,” said Anne Mitchell.

She said that at a recent meeting in Brussels,the EU Commission told IFA that it is up to the Dept. of Agriculture to come forward with analysis of new natural handicap criteria.

She said that they were told by EU officials, that lexibility existed under the criteria to protect existing areas and to devise a payment system that relates to the various land types.

“The €25m payment increase this September to 95,000 farmers must be the beginning of a process to enhance payment levels in the next CAP.

“IFA, in its pre-Budget submission has proposed that payment levels are restored to pre-2009 levels and take account of inflation in the intervening period.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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