INHFA to Hold National AGM this week
The Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) is set to hold its national annual general meeting (AGM) at the Clayton Hotel Sligo this Thursday, September 24th.
Speaking ahead of the AGM, INHFA President Pheilim Molloy outlined how “the event will provide an opportunity for members from across the country to come together to review the work of the association over the past year and plan for the coming year.”
A key theme of this year’s AGM will be generational renewal, with a particular focus on the importance of encouraging and supporting the next generation to take up and remain in farming.
Molloy said that “generational renewal must recognise the needs of both older and younger farmers. While it is important to encourage the next generation into farming, there must also be a realistic and financially manageable pathway for older farmers to step back from farming and pass responsibility for the farm on to the next generation.”
He added that “for many farming families, succession is not simply a question of transferring land. Older farmers need to know that they will have sufficient financial security when they retire, while those taking over the farm need to have the opportunity to develop a viable and sustainable farming enterprise.”
The AGM will also provide an opportunity for INHFA members to discuss the key issues affecting their livelihoods, including farm incomes, environmental policy, land management and the future direction of agricultural policy.
The AGM is he continued “an important opportunity for our members to come together, to have their views heard and to shape the direction of the association for the year ahead. With generational renewal as a key theme, we also want to ensure that the concerns and aspirations of both existing and future farmers are central to the discussions taking place.”
In conclusion, Molloy encouraged INHFA members to attend the AGM in Sligo and to “actively participate in the discussions on the future of farming, succession and the sustainability of rural communities.”
