A shortage of training and advice facilities which is preventing farmers from switching to organic agriculture will be highlighted today with the opening of a training and visitor facility at the Organic Centre in Rossinver, Co Leitrim.
The manager of the centre, Mr John O'Neill, said it could not meet the demand for places on its courses, and there was a critical shortage of training places in Ireland. While there was a market for organic produce, with demand growing by 25 to 30 per cent a year, farmers were not availing of this, Mr O'Neill said.
"This is potentially a lifeline to people who want to stay in farming. There is a booming market, and it has been found that 70 per cent of people are dissatisfied with imports, so the Department of Agriculture should be helping farmers to divert," he said.
Mr O'Neill welcomed the Department's funding to the centre at Rossinver, but said there was a need for more such centres. A full-time course in commercial organic horticulture is run in conjunction with FAS, but there is a waiting list of 40 for the 15 places on next year's course. Short courses are also offered throughout the year.
The centre is an ecological building constructed with timber and a grass roof. It includes a conference room, a library, a shop and a cafe. The cost of the project was £500,000, of which 60 per cent came from EU funds and an additional £140,000 from the International Fund for Ireland.
The Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr Noel Davern, and the Northern Agriculture Minister, Ms Brid Rodgers, will open the building.