The View from Northern Ireland: Minister Michelle O’Neill today welcomed the news that more than 1,000 farmers and farm family members participated in the FarmSafe Awareness programme in Northern Ireland.
FarmSafe Awareness is an initiative developed by the industry through the Farm Safety Partnership to increase awareness and reduce farm accidents and fatalities. The scheme is delivered locally on 37 Focus Farms by a network of dedicated farm facilitators.
O’Neill, Minister for Agriculture in the Northern Ireland Executive, said: “There is a culture of risk-taking within local agriculture and it is important that we work to change this mindset and to encourage farmers to stop and think about their work environment and their actions. We are working towards a target participation of 3,000 farmers and farm families by March 2014 and I am encouraged to see this is well underway with 1,000 farmers and their families having already taken part. FarmSafe Awareness combines practical guidance with real life farm experiences and I would actively encourage farmers and their families to get involved.”
The Rural Development Programme supports the delivery of FarmSafe Awareness workshops which are considered an essential part of a comprehensive industry wide effort to make farms safer.
For more information visit www.countrysiderural.co.uk.
