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ON TIME RDP PAYMENTS MUST BE GUARANTEED AFTER FARMERS HIT BY EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS

Aug 28, 2017 | Press Releases | 0 comments

25 AUGUST 2017

ICSA president Patrick Kent has called on the Department of Agriculture to guarantee that all payments under the Rural Development Programme will be paid on time in light of the severe difficulties facing farmers due to current adverse weather conditions. “Farmers in the west and northwest in particular are facing enormous challenges; we need to see a sense of urgency from Department in relation to Disadvantaged Area, GLAS and KT payments to avoid compounding this already bleak situation.”

Continuing Mr Kent said, “High levels of rainfall have left many farmers struggling to cope with flooded fields, damaged infrastructures and lost livestock. Others have been unable to harvest spring crops and there is silage still to be cut. The risk of having to house stock early is growing every week and worries about having adequate fodder are mounting. We know that delayed payments have caused serious hardship in the past and this can no longer be tolerated. The Department must get serious about ensuring farmers get the support they need as and where it is required.”

ENDS

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