Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 June 2023
498. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline how his Department intends to incentivise farmers to reach the target of 20,000 hectares of beans planted by 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30592/23]
View answerThe Protein Aid Scheme is one of a series of measures I have introduced to support the tillage sector in improving our self-sufficiency in the production of grain and protein crops.
Protein crops including beans, serve as a valuable break crop in tillage rotations and play an important role in fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere, helping to reduce nitrogen fertiliser usage. The Protein Aid Scheme provides support for the eligible protein crops of beans, peas, lupins and soya and for protein/cereal mix crops.
I more than doubled the budget for the Protein Aid Scheme from €3 million to €7 million per annum in the CAP Strategic Plan 2023 - 2027. The overall rate of payment per hectare is dependent on the area of eligible crops sown.
The importance of the tillage sector is recognised in the Food Vision 2030 strategy and in the Climate Action Plan 2023 where a target is set out to increase the area in tillage to 400,000 hectares. This is well founded given that the sector is one of the most carbon efficient sectors of Irish agriculture.
To help achieve this target, I recently established the Food Vision 2030 Tillage Group which had its first meeting on 11 May 2023. This group brings together all relevant stakeholders to set out a roadmap for the sustainable growth and development of the sector to 2030.
I have tasked the group with providing a detailed plan and recommendations by the final quarter of this year.
