EU proposals to reform the Common Agriculture Policy would lead to 800 job losses in farming in Co Sligo and a loss of farm income of some £4 million, protesters in Sligo were told yesterday.
In a smaller than expected turnout, about 50 farmers led by local IFA leaders walked through the town at lunchtime, followed by a convoy of 10 tractors. Traffic was disrupted only for a very short time.
Leaflets were distributed along the streets giving details of the likely effects on the local economy of the proposed CAP reforms. The IFA estimates the loss to the Co Sligo economy would total £10 million, and an additional 300 jobs would be lost in sectors dependent on agriculture.
Mr Adrian Leddy, IFA regional development officer, said the aim of the protest was to make the people of Sligo town aware of the situation, and not to inconvenience them. "We are all interdependent on each other. The townspeople need the farming community," Mr Leddy said.
An IFA delegation, including representatives from the northwest, is to take part in a mass demonstration of farmers in Brussels on Monday, to coincide with the start of an EU Farm Council meeting which will decide on CAP reform.
The chairman of the IFA in Co Sligo, Mr Joe Coulter, said if the Government did not act quickly, there would not be another generation of farmers in the west of Ireland.
"With the cuts they are proposing, there will be no future for our sons and daughters." Mr Coulter blamed the current situation on a range of factors including the BSE crisis, "inaction over many years from successive governments" and bad weather.
Farmers at the demonstration complained of having to sell cattle at half the price they would have got for them two years ago, and of going into debt to buy feed to keep animals alive.
Mr Padraig Neary from Aclare, Co Sligo, said his herd of store cattle were worth less than he paid for them four months ago.
"The Government has got to get more money from Europe. We are entitled to a living, and we are entitled to a trade for our stock," Mr Coulter said.