The number of farmers in the State has fallen by 3,100 between 2001 and 2002 to 136,000, the Department of Agriculture and Food's Compendium of Irish Agricultural Statistics has confirmed.
The updated statistics showed that between 2001 and 2002 the number of family farm holders under the age of 35 increased by 400 to 17,800, while those over the age of 65 decreased by 1,500 to 27,400. It also showed that farmers under 35 make up 13 per cent of family farm holders, while 20 per cent are over 65. This compares with an EU average of 8 per cent below 35 years and 29 per cent above the age of 65. As had been predicted, the average farm size has increased over the year to 32 hectares from 28 hectares.
Employment in the agriculture sector in 2003 was 108,200, of which 95,400 are men and 12,800 are women, according to the new report. The statistics showed that 40 per cent of the total population (3,917,203) currently live in rural areas.
Agriculture as a percentage of the GDP in the EU-15 averaged 1.7 per cent, while that of the ten candidate countries stood at 3.1 per cent in 2002 and the value of Irish exports of agri-food produce is provisionally valued at €6.7 billion in 2002.
The Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mr Walsh, said the compendium was of use to those who needed ready access to structured information on a broad range of aspects on the agricultural economy.
Agri-Aware, the body which promotes Irish farming, welcomed the publication of the statistics saying they showed the continuing crucial importance of Ireland's farming and food industry.
"The agriculture and food industry is shown to account for 9 per cent of total employment or over 160,000 jobs. The statistics show that in only two other member states of the current EU 15, Greece and Portugal, is agriculture more important in terms of its share of employment," said Mr Pádraig Healy, general manager of Agri Aware.
He said the figures also show the growing importance of off-farm employment on farms. On 48.1 per cent of farms either the farmer holder or the spouse has an off-farm job. In 34.6 per cent of farm households it is the farm holder who has the off-farm job.