ALTERNATIVE farm enterprises in rural Ireland are now worth more than £300 million a year, larger than the sheep industry.
Opening the Rural Enterprise 96 event yesterday, the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Yates, said alternative activities such as egg production, deer production, sports horse breeding and amenity horticulture could create during 4,000 jobs in the next five years.
The Minister predicted that forestry could be worth more than the beef industry over the next 20 years, becoming a £2 billion sector with the potential for 11,000 jobs. He would soon announce details of the National Forestry Programme, which is aimed at bringing one million acres into production.
Dr Liam Downey, director of Teagasc, which organised the event, said activities regarded as hobbies some years ago were now "big business", creating jobs and keeping people in rural Ireland.
Some 50 Enterprise Establishment training courses would be set up, he said, to cater for a range of family based enterprises, including food, rural tourism, free range poultry, amenity horticulture, mushrooms and deer.
The Athenry event provided a showcase for more than 100 small businesses emerging in rural Ireland.