Of the total land area In Ireland, 64 is specifically used for Agricultural practice. Agriculture is categorized into three main types grazing, dairy farming and arable farming. Forestry takes 9.4 of the total land. The mild temperatures, high rainfall and fertile land in the country provide ideal conditions necessary for agriculture and despite the pattern of decline in the past two decades, agricultural activities still remain an important source of employment in rural and remote regions of the country. The drop in agricultural output from 16 of GDP in the year 1975 to 5 in 1998 shows only a relative decline when measured against the steady increase in GDP which is driven by other sectors. Although the fall in prices of agricultural products has been drastic, the volume of output has only experienced a small decrease (Donnelan 2010, p. 3). As a result, the agricultural industry is suffering from overcapacity and falling incomes and its highly reliant on EU subsidies and fixed prices.
The number of small-scale farmers remains high for an industrialized country and most of them take up other forms of employment to subsidize their income. Even though the average farm size which is currently 29.5 hectares or 73 acres is progressively increasing, the Irish farmers association asserts that the farm size remains the single biggest hindrance to generating adequate income in the agricultural sector. After the last ice age in Ireland, very little forests remained and these were the dwarf birch and willow but as the weather warmed up, Scots pine and Birch developed. The cold climate caused the forest areas in Ireland to clear out and as a result, peat bogs developed leaving most of the land to be open as it is today. This essay will mainly explore the major factors affecting the development of agriculture and forestry in Ireland. In addition I will also talk about my opinion regarding the importance of the environment and rural development along with the production of agricultural products (Donnelan 2010, p. 3).
Factors affecting agricultural development in Ireland
Agriculture is an important industry in Ireland and currently, farmers make up to 7 of the workforce. When employment in inputs, processing and marketing is included, the agri-food sector accounts for almost 10 of the employment. Irish agriculture is primarily a grass-based industry whereby 80 of agricultural land is devoted to grass (hay, silage and pasture), 11 to rough grazing and 9 to crop production. Beef and milk production account for close to 60 of agricultural output at producer prices (Donnellan 2010, p.2).
According to report from the European Commission, the development of agriculture in Ireland has been affected by factors like those illustrated below
Increase in prices of agricultural land Since land is one of the factors of production in agriculture, an increase in the cost of agricultural land has made many people to shift focus from investing in agriculture to other better income generating projects like property development and road building. All this is a result of low income that is generated from practicing agriculture which is lower compared to the cost of land.
Climate change Agricultural practice is interrelated to climate change. Therefore global warming is projected to have a significant effect on the conditions that affect agriculture in Ireland. Such conditions include temperature, carbon dioxide, glacial run-off, precipitation and an overall interaction of these elements. Formation of ice during winter seasons greatly affects the growth of crops due to the extreme cold temperatures which causes them to die off. In addition, such low temperatures can cause seed dormancy hence the newly planted crops may not germinate until the dormancy is broken.
Crop pests and diseases The magnitude of damage caused by pests and diseases on crops in Ireland is complicated because the direct effects on crop development are normally compounded by indirect adverse effects. Crop diseases reduce yields and competitiveness in crop production and their effects are largely unquantified. Similarly, there is reduced animal production especially when animal health is affected by diseases.
Arable land This is a term that is used to refer to land that can be used for growing crops. Although there are constraints by land mass and topology, the amount of arable land in Ireland has fluctuated due to human and climatic factors like irrigation, deforestation, desertification, terracing and land fill. All these factors highly affect crop production and as a result, agricultural development has been hindered.
Environmental pollution In this case, the mismanagement of agricultural soils and their fertility often result in soil erosion, salinization and desertification. As a result of these, soil gets contaminated with chemicals and heavy metals which affect soil sustainability in the long run. Pollution of surface and ground water as a result of increased fertilizer utilization or high animal stocking densities are also detrimental to agricultural land. This has played a big role in hindering agricultural development (EC, 2005, p. 14).
Major factors affecting forestry in Ireland
In the past, Ireland was dominated by woodland but land clearance reduced the woodland cover to 1.4 immediately after the First World War. Currently, forestry covers about 6 of Northern Ireland and this only makes a small but valuable contribution to the rural economy. The Irish Government is currently proposing to double the Irish forest estate from the current level of 9 of the land area by the year 2030. To achieve this, its important that the government develops regionally applicable forestry policies and strategies that can be used to a national scale instead of using the generic ones (OLeary 2000, p.39). Forestry development in Ireland is affected by several factors. The following are some of the major ones Forest fires This is a common problem because in every spring in Ireland, there are several hundreds hectares of forests and woodland that are usually destroyed by fire. Currently, weather conditions show that there is an increased risk of forest fires which needs a keen attention of forest owners and the public. The areas facing greater risk are those around and within the moorland areas. In most cases, its the dry periods and seasonal high winds which aid in the creation of ideal conditions for wild fires to spread so fast through highly flammable moorland vegetation. Woodlands that are located in the path of such fires can be very easily destroyed and young forest crops are also particularly at the risk of fire (Bailey 2007, p. 1888).
Activities of man Man has largely contributed to the disappearance of forests in Ireland by clearing large areas of forest. The wood obtained from cutting down trees is used for many purposes like building of shelter and fuel. Studies have shown that the rate of forest clearance has gradually increased from Stone Age to the Iron Age. Comparatively, history reveals that Ireland started experiencing the export of timber as far back as the 16th century. For example Barrel staves were being exported to England, Scotland, Holland, Spain and the Canary Islands (Bailey 2007, p. 1888).
Climate the cold climate in Ireland has largely contributed to the underdevelopment of forestry. Cold seasons especially winter makes some tree species to disappear leaving very few in survival. Pollen analysis at different weather seasons has shown a difference in the proportion of the various species although some are all weather species. Examples of such species include Oak, Ash, Elm, Alder and Willow. Hot and dry seasons increase the water uptake by woodlands which restricts planting to take place in areas with limited water availability (Bailey 2007, p. 1890).
Pest and disease outbreak This greatly affects the growth of trees and facilitates the extinction of some species. An illustration of this is the increasing impact of the green spruce aphid on commercial plantations of Sitka spruce (Archell, 2007, p. 9).
Forest culture There is no discernable forest management culture in Ireland. This is mainly because most of the activities done in relation to forestry are grant driven hence people dont have an inborn urge to preserve forests. The fact that forestry is relatively low in Ireland is also an obvious reason as to why development in this sector is so sluggish. Data from the National forest Inventory shows that 60 of the forest stock in Ireland is less than 20 years and that proper first thinning is quite essential. It is notable that there is little emphasis on timber markets hence there is a need of changing peoples mind set to understand that forestry is an investment which has several benefits to the country and people of Ireland as well (Food and agriculture Department 2000, p.8 ).
My opinion as to why the environment and rural development are important, along with the production of agricultural commodities.
The word rural can be interpreted in so many ways but the general idea of understanding this term is the actions and initiatives that are taken in order to improve the standard of living in non-urban areas. In my opinion, rural development is an essential consideration because it helps to sustain the survival of people who live in rural areas. The fact that rural areas are usually very rich in agricultural produce due to fertile and unpolluted land implies that developing such areas is essential. If accomplished, it would play a big role in developing the agriculture industry in Ireland. Based on the fact that rural development is closely linked to social structure, it will involve the general balance between the rural regions and other areas of economic significance like energy, infrastructure and education. For instance, if the infrastructure in rural areas is well developed transportation of agricultural produce to urban areas or within Ireland will become more efficient and fast.
Environmental development is also considered to be very important in sustaining agriculture in Ireland. These calls for good Agri-environmental measures which are designed to encourage farmers to preserve the environment by preventing soil air and water pollution to increase their land produce. Land can be conserved by reducing the use of chemical fertilizers in growing crops. This enhances the survival of flora and fauna. Water quality may be can be protected by use of measures that reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers. Similarly, production of agricultural products is of great benefit to Ireland. This is because the export of main products is essential in boosting the economy through exports. The contribution Agriculture to the Irish economy may be twice that of the European Union average hence the agricultural food exports may account for a big percentage of the total foreign earnings. The large exports of beef, sheep, pigs and dairy animals make Ireland to be among the largest exporters in the world which is important in stabilization of the countrys economy.
In conclusion, agriculture and forestry in Ireland should be recovered by addressing the main factors that are hindering development of these specific areas. Some of the factors have been discussed in this essay and with proper planning and implementation of good farming practices, this problem can be overcome. Farmers should be well paid for their products in order to motivate them in practicing agriculture despite the various challenges they encounter. In addition, they can also be rewarded to engage in Good Farming Practices (GFP) that will promote environmental conservation for sustainable agriculture in Ireland. Citizens of Ireland should be educated on the importance of conservation of forests and discourage them from engaging in activities that may lead to desertification.
The number of small-scale farmers remains high for an industrialized country and most of them take up other forms of employment to subsidize their income. Even though the average farm size which is currently 29.5 hectares or 73 acres is progressively increasing, the Irish farmers association asserts that the farm size remains the single biggest hindrance to generating adequate income in the agricultural sector. After the last ice age in Ireland, very little forests remained and these were the dwarf birch and willow but as the weather warmed up, Scots pine and Birch developed. The cold climate caused the forest areas in Ireland to clear out and as a result, peat bogs developed leaving most of the land to be open as it is today. This essay will mainly explore the major factors affecting the development of agriculture and forestry in Ireland. In addition I will also talk about my opinion regarding the importance of the environment and rural development along with the production of agricultural products (Donnelan 2010, p. 3).
Factors affecting agricultural development in Ireland
Agriculture is an important industry in Ireland and currently, farmers make up to 7 of the workforce. When employment in inputs, processing and marketing is included, the agri-food sector accounts for almost 10 of the employment. Irish agriculture is primarily a grass-based industry whereby 80 of agricultural land is devoted to grass (hay, silage and pasture), 11 to rough grazing and 9 to crop production. Beef and milk production account for close to 60 of agricultural output at producer prices (Donnellan 2010, p.2).
According to report from the European Commission, the development of agriculture in Ireland has been affected by factors like those illustrated below
Increase in prices of agricultural land Since land is one of the factors of production in agriculture, an increase in the cost of agricultural land has made many people to shift focus from investing in agriculture to other better income generating projects like property development and road building. All this is a result of low income that is generated from practicing agriculture which is lower compared to the cost of land.
Climate change Agricultural practice is interrelated to climate change. Therefore global warming is projected to have a significant effect on the conditions that affect agriculture in Ireland. Such conditions include temperature, carbon dioxide, glacial run-off, precipitation and an overall interaction of these elements. Formation of ice during winter seasons greatly affects the growth of crops due to the extreme cold temperatures which causes them to die off. In addition, such low temperatures can cause seed dormancy hence the newly planted crops may not germinate until the dormancy is broken.
Crop pests and diseases The magnitude of damage caused by pests and diseases on crops in Ireland is complicated because the direct effects on crop development are normally compounded by indirect adverse effects. Crop diseases reduce yields and competitiveness in crop production and their effects are largely unquantified. Similarly, there is reduced animal production especially when animal health is affected by diseases.
Arable land This is a term that is used to refer to land that can be used for growing crops. Although there are constraints by land mass and topology, the amount of arable land in Ireland has fluctuated due to human and climatic factors like irrigation, deforestation, desertification, terracing and land fill. All these factors highly affect crop production and as a result, agricultural development has been hindered.
Environmental pollution In this case, the mismanagement of agricultural soils and their fertility often result in soil erosion, salinization and desertification. As a result of these, soil gets contaminated with chemicals and heavy metals which affect soil sustainability in the long run. Pollution of surface and ground water as a result of increased fertilizer utilization or high animal stocking densities are also detrimental to agricultural land. This has played a big role in hindering agricultural development (EC, 2005, p. 14).
Major factors affecting forestry in Ireland
In the past, Ireland was dominated by woodland but land clearance reduced the woodland cover to 1.4 immediately after the First World War. Currently, forestry covers about 6 of Northern Ireland and this only makes a small but valuable contribution to the rural economy. The Irish Government is currently proposing to double the Irish forest estate from the current level of 9 of the land area by the year 2030. To achieve this, its important that the government develops regionally applicable forestry policies and strategies that can be used to a national scale instead of using the generic ones (OLeary 2000, p.39). Forestry development in Ireland is affected by several factors. The following are some of the major ones Forest fires This is a common problem because in every spring in Ireland, there are several hundreds hectares of forests and woodland that are usually destroyed by fire. Currently, weather conditions show that there is an increased risk of forest fires which needs a keen attention of forest owners and the public. The areas facing greater risk are those around and within the moorland areas. In most cases, its the dry periods and seasonal high winds which aid in the creation of ideal conditions for wild fires to spread so fast through highly flammable moorland vegetation. Woodlands that are located in the path of such fires can be very easily destroyed and young forest crops are also particularly at the risk of fire (Bailey 2007, p. 1888).
Activities of man Man has largely contributed to the disappearance of forests in Ireland by clearing large areas of forest. The wood obtained from cutting down trees is used for many purposes like building of shelter and fuel. Studies have shown that the rate of forest clearance has gradually increased from Stone Age to the Iron Age. Comparatively, history reveals that Ireland started experiencing the export of timber as far back as the 16th century. For example Barrel staves were being exported to England, Scotland, Holland, Spain and the Canary Islands (Bailey 2007, p. 1888).
Climate the cold climate in Ireland has largely contributed to the underdevelopment of forestry. Cold seasons especially winter makes some tree species to disappear leaving very few in survival. Pollen analysis at different weather seasons has shown a difference in the proportion of the various species although some are all weather species. Examples of such species include Oak, Ash, Elm, Alder and Willow. Hot and dry seasons increase the water uptake by woodlands which restricts planting to take place in areas with limited water availability (Bailey 2007, p. 1890).
Pest and disease outbreak This greatly affects the growth of trees and facilitates the extinction of some species. An illustration of this is the increasing impact of the green spruce aphid on commercial plantations of Sitka spruce (Archell, 2007, p. 9).
Forest culture There is no discernable forest management culture in Ireland. This is mainly because most of the activities done in relation to forestry are grant driven hence people dont have an inborn urge to preserve forests. The fact that forestry is relatively low in Ireland is also an obvious reason as to why development in this sector is so sluggish. Data from the National forest Inventory shows that 60 of the forest stock in Ireland is less than 20 years and that proper first thinning is quite essential. It is notable that there is little emphasis on timber markets hence there is a need of changing peoples mind set to understand that forestry is an investment which has several benefits to the country and people of Ireland as well (Food and agriculture Department 2000, p.8 ).
My opinion as to why the environment and rural development are important, along with the production of agricultural commodities.
The word rural can be interpreted in so many ways but the general idea of understanding this term is the actions and initiatives that are taken in order to improve the standard of living in non-urban areas. In my opinion, rural development is an essential consideration because it helps to sustain the survival of people who live in rural areas. The fact that rural areas are usually very rich in agricultural produce due to fertile and unpolluted land implies that developing such areas is essential. If accomplished, it would play a big role in developing the agriculture industry in Ireland. Based on the fact that rural development is closely linked to social structure, it will involve the general balance between the rural regions and other areas of economic significance like energy, infrastructure and education. For instance, if the infrastructure in rural areas is well developed transportation of agricultural produce to urban areas or within Ireland will become more efficient and fast.
Environmental development is also considered to be very important in sustaining agriculture in Ireland. These calls for good Agri-environmental measures which are designed to encourage farmers to preserve the environment by preventing soil air and water pollution to increase their land produce. Land can be conserved by reducing the use of chemical fertilizers in growing crops. This enhances the survival of flora and fauna. Water quality may be can be protected by use of measures that reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers. Similarly, production of agricultural products is of great benefit to Ireland. This is because the export of main products is essential in boosting the economy through exports. The contribution Agriculture to the Irish economy may be twice that of the European Union average hence the agricultural food exports may account for a big percentage of the total foreign earnings. The large exports of beef, sheep, pigs and dairy animals make Ireland to be among the largest exporters in the world which is important in stabilization of the countrys economy.
In conclusion, agriculture and forestry in Ireland should be recovered by addressing the main factors that are hindering development of these specific areas. Some of the factors have been discussed in this essay and with proper planning and implementation of good farming practices, this problem can be overcome. Farmers should be well paid for their products in order to motivate them in practicing agriculture despite the various challenges they encounter. In addition, they can also be rewarded to engage in Good Farming Practices (GFP) that will promote environmental conservation for sustainable agriculture in Ireland. Citizens of Ireland should be educated on the importance of conservation of forests and discourage them from engaging in activities that may lead to desertification.
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