I note the points made in 9.4 that there has been a reduction in agricultrual employment, reduction in number of farms, increase in average size of farms and that 52% of all farm households have off farm income. 

9.4 Agriculture/ Agri-Food Sector Over the past number of years there has been a significant fall off in agricultural employment. This is indicative of the changing nature of the rural economy. The total area of land farmed in Kildare is 113,765 ha, comprising 67% of the overall area of the county. Since 1991 the number of farms has reduced from 3,251 to 2,578 in 2010. This represents a reduction of 20% compared to a 17% reduction for the state.

These figures indicate that whilst the number of farms may have decreased over the period, their average size increased marginally, suggesting that consolidation of farms may have taken place, to create larger, more viable / diversified landholdings employing larger numbers of people. Teagasc National Farm Survey 2019 shows that over half (52%) of all farm households have off-farm income.

This trend is worrying and does not bode well for the future of our farms or for food security. 

I would like to see support in the CDP for small family farms, measures to reduce intensification and consolidation of farms, measures to promote a fair income for farmers, promotion of local food growing, food education, and an acknowledgementof the food inse urity situation in Ireland. Ireland currently imports 75% of its food.

See An Taisce submission to the Draft Agri Food Strtegy to 2030 https://www.antaisce.org/submission-on-the-draft-agri-food-2030-strategy-and-environmental-assessments  - extract "Here in Ireland, a productivist model of food production – characterised by intensification, concentration, and specialisation – has come to dominate farming. There has been a continued failure to align food production with environmental protection and legal obligations.9, 10 The EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has supported this model by subsidising food production over the other services that farmland can provide (such as regulation of soil and water quality, carbon sequestration, support for biodiversity and cultural services). Despite numerous and on-going reforms, the current CAP policy framework has failed to drive sustainability and environmental protection. Since its establishment in 1962, the CAP has driven the intensification of agriculture and has promoted the simplification and specialisation of agricultural ecosystems. This, in turn, has led to profound biodiversity loss land degradation, including over-grazing, and climate change. Limited funding goes to support climate-friendly and biodiverse farming regions.11 It is also well recognised that CAP spending exacerbates income inequality within agriculture. CAP has not benefited the majority of farmers, with larger farms (that are more prone to intensification)"

 I suggest amending RD012 as follows

RD 012 Encourage farmers markets and local food hubs for the sale of locally produced goods at appropriate locations in the towns and villages across the county.

I suggest the CDP includes an objective to promote Community Supported Agriculture CSA across the county

I suggest the CDP includes an objective to organise access to allotments in every town in the county