THE MOST successful National Ploughing Championships ended last night, recording the highest attendance in its 80-year history: 190,000 people over the three days.
Anna May McHugh, the managing director of the National Ploughing Association, said the championships had been boosted by a fine harvest, improved prices for farm produce and the general air of optimism that now surrounded agriculture.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny added to the general feeling of goodwill when he pledged the Government’s support for the sector, which he described as being central to the economic recovery of the country.
He said the championships were an outstanding success and, with the growth in income and export potential now being realised by the agri-sector, there was generally a mood of confidence here.
“I recognise the difficulties and challenges that lie ahead both for our European members of parliament and our Government in reforms which must come to the Cap, the abolition of quotas, the Mercosur discussions and so on, which will have to take place.
“But for this year, 2011, the agri-sector is a very important fundamental part of Ireland’s recovery pattern on export-led growth in the agri-sector.
“From that point of view it will remain a clear priority for our Government,” he said.
Ms McHugh said there had been growth in all areas that made up the championships and she noted the growth in the number of colleges and schools coming to the event.
“It is great to see the young people here and showing an interest in agriculture because these young people are our future and they can see here, all in one place, what Irish agriculture is all about.”
She said the championships, which cost more than €3 million to stage, would be held next year in Co Wexford, and preparations were already under way.
She hoped they would be as successful as the Athy event.
The only negative news yesterday was that Teagasc, the agriculture and food development authority, was being required by the Government to reduce its staffing levels by 240 by the end of 2014.
The Mandate trade union said the reduction came at a time when the organisation was responding to the increasing demands from the sector to achieve the targets set out in the Food Harvest 2020 report, which would more or less double Irish agricultural output.
The Government’s decision to reduce staffing is part of the planned overall reduction in public sector staff under the national programme for economic recovery.