There is no reference to production agriculture at all within the recently published NI draft plan for government.
Instead, the focus of the work envisaged for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) centres on the proposed clean up of Lough Neagh.
The draft plan has been submitted for public consultation. It confirms that Lough Neagh is one of Northern Ireland’s most important natural resources.
Adding to this is the huge economic significance of the lough for those who depend on it for drinking water, its fishing and eel industries. Lough Neagh is also of growing importance for recreation and tourism.
However, the significant blue-green algae blooms being witnessed in Lough Neagh and beyond are due to a combination of factors.
This includes decades of pollution by nutrients from agriculture, wastewater, septic tanks, and industrial processes.
Given this background, the Stormont Executive is now proposing to develop a new strategy under the aegis of Northern Ireland’s first Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP).
This will include a range of commitments to improve the natural environment.
NI draft plan
The EIP, in conjunction with other strategies, will provide a determined and coherent response by the Stormont Executive to the global challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change.
The programme for government also references the setting of carbon budgets and the full development of Northern Ireland’s first climate action plan.
Meanwhile, DAERA minister, Andrew Muir, has been laying out his priorities, where the future funding needs of agriculture in Northern Ireland are concerned.
Earlier this week, he replied to a Stormont Assembly question from Sinn Féin on the issue of a ‘just transition’ fund, outside of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), being established for farming in Northern Ireland.
“I agree 100%, and that is what we need to do. I am passionate about a just transition in agriculture,” he said.
“We need to ensure that the work that we carry out to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reach net zero will be fair and that we support people on that journey. That is why we need to provide those incentives and support.
“We have earmarked funding. The total earmarked funding, which includes agriculture and fisheries, is about £330 million, and that is largely resource funding. I am making the case that we should have separate capital funding.
“Also, I have made the case that the earmarked funding, which was guaranteed until the end of March 2025, following our departure from the EU, should be indexed in line with inflation going forward. It is critical that that happen,” he added.
Muir explained that he is, however, concerned about the earmarked funding. He referenced recent reports about Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) potentially reduced its allocation of such funding for England.
“I am concerned about how that could affect Northern Ireland, and I will make strong representations to that effect,” Muir said.
“If we want to improve water and air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we need to fund and support agri-food to travel that journey, and that is absolutely key for me.
“I have engaged with my Scottish and Welsh counterparts on that recently, and I will engage with the Secretary of State on it in London next week,” he concluded.
