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26/09/2002
UFU protests against 'unsustainable returns'
The Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) have mounted a protest in Belfast city centre this afternoon to highlight what they describe as "unsustainable returns" for their produce in the market place.
Local farmers and the UFU will sell farm produce at ‘farmgate’ prices – that is, at the price which farmers receive, rather than the normal retail price in superstores – to the general public in Castle Place from 12pm.
The UFU says farmers are selling many commodities for prices which "barely cover the cost of production", a situation which they describe as "totally unsustainable for farming families".
The city centre event is part of the UFU’s CARE campaign, a Campaign Against a Rural Exodus. The union says that farmers must get a better deal from the food chain if they are to stay in business.
UFU President John Gilliland said: “For the past five years farmers have been earning less than the minimum wage and working on average almost 70 hours per week. The very poor prices which we are receiving from the food chain is a major factor in the collapse in farm incomes.
“Consumers will be able to see clearly the price differential between food production costs, the farm gate price and what the consumer actually pays for a range of local produce.”
Pricing concerns have been raised by MLAs in the assembly. George Savage, Ulster Unionist spokesman on Agriculture, called on Agriculture Minister Brid Rodgers to create a Fair Price Commission so that farmers could get a "fair slice" of the profits from the goods they produce.
During Monday's session, Mr Savage intervened during questions on the establishment of a food body, saying that the establishment of a Fair Price Commission was a far greater priority and that farm incomes were in crisis.
The Minister said that a Fair Price Commission was a reserved matter and outside her competence.
Afterwards, Mr Savage said: “The Minister argued that she would oppose price fixing if evidence could be uncovered. Well, the Fair Price Commission which I propose would do exactly that. It would establish where the profits in the agri-food sector were going. So why doesn’t she set up the Commission to establish the facts?”
(GMcG)
Local farmers and the UFU will sell farm produce at ‘farmgate’ prices – that is, at the price which farmers receive, rather than the normal retail price in superstores – to the general public in Castle Place from 12pm.
The UFU says farmers are selling many commodities for prices which "barely cover the cost of production", a situation which they describe as "totally unsustainable for farming families".
The city centre event is part of the UFU’s CARE campaign, a Campaign Against a Rural Exodus. The union says that farmers must get a better deal from the food chain if they are to stay in business.
UFU President John Gilliland said: “For the past five years farmers have been earning less than the minimum wage and working on average almost 70 hours per week. The very poor prices which we are receiving from the food chain is a major factor in the collapse in farm incomes.
“Consumers will be able to see clearly the price differential between food production costs, the farm gate price and what the consumer actually pays for a range of local produce.”
Pricing concerns have been raised by MLAs in the assembly. George Savage, Ulster Unionist spokesman on Agriculture, called on Agriculture Minister Brid Rodgers to create a Fair Price Commission so that farmers could get a "fair slice" of the profits from the goods they produce.
During Monday's session, Mr Savage intervened during questions on the establishment of a food body, saying that the establishment of a Fair Price Commission was a far greater priority and that farm incomes were in crisis.
The Minister said that a Fair Price Commission was a reserved matter and outside her competence.
Afterwards, Mr Savage said: “The Minister argued that she would oppose price fixing if evidence could be uncovered. Well, the Fair Price Commission which I propose would do exactly that. It would establish where the profits in the agri-food sector were going. So why doesn’t she set up the Commission to establish the facts?”
(GMcG)
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Rain clearing away east by early evening with some clear spells but a few showers likely to affect the North coast and other areas towards dawn, remaining breezy and mild overnight. Minimum temperature 9 °C.
