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Potato farmers take €1m hit
21.01.10
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by Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent
INISHOWEN potato farmers are facing crisis after the
recent freezing weather has left them with losses of
up to €1million.
The wettest November in thirty years followed by the
deepest freeze in living memory has destroyed up to
40% of the potato crop in Inishowen.
Kevin Harkin, Bridgend, the largest grower in the
county, still has 130 acres of potatoes in the
ground.
“One third of our crop has yet to be harvested. The
signs are not good for it,” he said.
“We will have to wait and see what the losses are
but unfortunately they could be total.”
Kevin said that it was usual to lose a small
percentage of the crop but he had never seen
anything like this. |
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“This was an act of
God, what can you do? The frost has never penetrated
so deep before so we are looking at massive losses.
This is a disaster,” he said.
The Bridgend farmer’s losses could top €200,000.
Newtown potato farmer, Charlie Doherty, had a
similar tale to tell.
“We have 26 acres left to dig |
and I fear that these
potatoes will be 100% destroyed. I have already
checked some and they just turn to mush in your
hands,” he said.
“Potatoes are 90% water and when this freezes it
kills the plant’s cells. When they thaw out they
simply disintegrate into liquid.”
Charlie said that the window for harvesting was
getting smaller and smaller because of the weather.
“We were working flat out from 7am until 11pm at
night but we had no chance of getting all the
potatoes lifted,” he said.
The Newtown farmer said he was determined to stay in
the business despite the recent difficulties, which
could cost him €50,000.
“I have to stick it out. I have too much invested in
potato farming to give it up. I hope this never
happens again,” he said.
Terence McErleane, Newtown, said that he had lost
more than half of his entire crop, €200,000 worth of
potatoes.
“It is a wee bit early to say because there is still
ice below ground but it looks like a total
write-off,” he said.
“I have never seen anything on this scale before. It
is a form of natural disaster.
“Psychologically, it is very tough to put in such an
effort with the crop all year round and then end up
with half of it being destroyed.”
Donegal IFA chairman, William Monagle, said that
potato farmers had lost 6,000 acres nationwide, with
around 1/6 of that being borne by farmers in
Donegal.
“Growers have had a devastating winter and potatoes
could become scarce as a result,” he said.
“I never remember a frost lasting as long as this. I
still have nine acres in the ground but there are
many farmers who have lost a hell of a lot more than
me.”
Mr. Monagle said he would do everything in his power
to cover the farmers’ losses.
“I will be lobbying for the best compensation deal
possible and I am confident that we will get
something for those affected,” he said. |
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