Fianna Fáil has promised an €8.7 million investment in agriculture as part of a five-year plan if it is returned to government after next month's general election.
Releasing their new agricultural policy document entitled The Next Step Forward for Farming Communities, Fianna Fáil promised better benefits for farmers including an early retirement scheme, an increased income, and an investment in agricultural education and training.
Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan, said that the Irish agri-food sector is "essential to our long term economic well-being."
Insisting this was not empty rhetoric, the minister continued "the strong economy and national resources" are making it possible for the investment into the agricultural industry.
A Eurostat report showed that Irish farmers' incomes last year fell by 13.3 per cent compared to 2005.
On their website www.ripoff.ie, Fine Gael's Denis Naughten said their survey (dated July 2006)revealed that "Irish consumers were paying high food prices, but farmers were not getting the benefits."