Madam, - Although I am a farmer, I was not on the recent farmers' march in Dublin. And although I have sympathy with farmers' concerns regarding the WTO negotiations, I find the farm organisations cannot see the woods for the trees.
The global changes in recent years are bound to accelerate. Climate change, population growth, rising wealth in Asia and increasing use of bio-fuels mean that ensuring a secure supply of food is increasingly critical - as witnessed by the 2,500-page UN food report.
Indeed, the farming organisations seem petty and parochial when faced with daily reports of food shortages, riots and government collapses in third world countries.
Our farmers need to be adventurous and seek the end of restrictive practices, such as quotas. They should encourage new technologies (yes, including genetic modification) so the world can feed itself.
Undoubtedly there are questions about bio-fuels, and about a level playing pitch of standards between the EU and other countries. However, the bigger challenge is whether we Europeans shut ourselves off from the rapidly changing world or engage in it. Europe does, after all, have the temperate climate most suited to agricultural production.
Commodity food prices have been falling for 25 years. I would argue that they have been too low and that this is reflected in the small share of Western disposable incomes spent on food. But I also accept that if you are an Egyptian spending 70 per cent of your income on food, a 50 per cent rise in food commodity prices leads to crisis and hunger.
As a farmer, I want a decent price for the milk I produce. As a human being, I cannot ignore hunger in other people. The debate among farmers should aim to ensure these two wishes are not contradictory. - Yours, etc,
DANNY HASKINS,
Oatlands,
Wicklow,
Co Wicklow.