IFA President John Bryan has welcomed the publication of the Government’s Agri 2020 Strategy and said Irish farmers are ready to play their part in grasping the real opportunities that have been identified for the sector.

Mr Bryan said the targets for export growth to €12bn and for primary output to increase in value by €1.5bn are achievable and the appropriate policy and competitive economic environment must be created by the Government to realise the industry’s full potential. “The cornerstone of the 2020 Strategy is to increase production at producer level across all sectors. Government support in assisting competitiveness and supporting vital farm schemes is critical for this to happen.”

The IFA President added that external factors such as a well-funded CAP post-2013 must be put in place, and concessions from trade deals that would damage primary production must be resisted, in order for the objectives to be met.