DUP MLA for Newry and Armagh William Irwin has claimed that DARD is lining up the closure of the AFBI site at Loughgall as one way to save money.
The member of the Northern Ireland Assembly Agricultural Committee made the claim after being contacted by employees from AFBI. Mr Irwin believes that DARD is planning to withdraw from vital research into apples, potato breeding, mushrooms and agro f
orestry.
"Vital research is carried out in grassland breeding, apples, mushrooms, potatoes, agro forestry and biomass at the AFBI site in Loughgall," he told Farming Life.
"Much of this work has a commercial focus and is extremely beneficial to farmers throughout Northern Ireland. The vast majority of new grass varieties included in grass seed mixes have been developed and tested at Loughgall and are bred to suit Northern Ireland climatic conditions. Loughgall is the only location that carries out research into apples in Northern Ireland, a sector which contributes over £30 million per year to the Armagh economy. Both the mushroom and potato research programmes are also commercially focused with new commercial deals being signed for both programmes over recent months.
"I was shocked and dismayed to learn from staff working at Loughgall that DARD is considering withdrawing from the site by March 2013, selling off the site and more alarmingly withdrawing from vital research into apples, potatoes, mushrooms and agro forestry. Under the proposal DARD would be planning to move grass breeding and biomass research to other AFBI sites. I have no doubt that this will have a direct impact on research programmes based at AFBI sites such as Hillsborough," added Mr Irwin.
"I believe that this proposal is totally unacceptable. DARD must protect core front line services to assist farmers and research programmes that are commercially focused and supported by the wider industry. I have no doubt that significant savings will have to be made across DARD but it is totally unacceptable that they are simply putting a red pen through vital research programmes. With falling incomes for farmers and likely changes to EU support, it is vital that there is strong research carried out within Northern Ireland that is commercially focused in order to help the sector to survive in the future."
Mr Irwin MLA has questioned the process being carried out by DARD and had called on the DARD Minister to clarify the stance being taken by her Department.
"It is important that the Minister and her Department clarifies to the staff based at Loughgall and the wider industry what their plans are for the future of Loughgall. As much of the land based at Loughgall is under a long term lease it is unlikely that the sale of Loughgall will any significant returns to either DARD or the Northern Ireland Executive," he concluded.
In response to the claims made by William Irwin, DARD issued the following statement to Farming Life: "All Departments have been asked by the Department of Finance and Personnel to prepare draft savings delivery plans. DARD is currently preparing for consideration a wide range of options for reduction and is still at the information gathering stage. No decisions have been taken."
