Madam, - The current row over the Cap and the latest proposals for the sugar beet industry illustrate how 30 years of EU farming policy have resulted in Irish farmers effectively becoming social welfare recipients.
At least the old "farmer's dole" had the merit of being an honest description of what was actually going on.
Successive governments and the farm organisations have failed to prepare farmers for the hard landing that is inevitably coming. Instead of a weaning process since we joined in 1973, the Cap has become a life support machine, without which most farmers would not survive.
The system has encouraged them to continue to pursue farm enterprises which would be profoundly uneconomic without the cushion of major subsidies, rather than seeking financially viable alternatives.
This has not been a victimless crime. European taxpayers and consumers have stoically carried the burden of this artificially priced agriculture while Third-World producers have suffered the consequences of subsidy and protectionism.
Even if Tony Blair fails to deliver the coup de grace to the Cap, the day of reckoning is coming, probably sooner rather than later. Politicians need to be honest and represent the interests of all the population, rather than just the highly vocal farming lobby, as well as considering our moral obligations to Third-World producers.
It's long past time for switching off this life support machine. Call in the vet and put non-viable farmers out of their misery. - Yours, etc,
PETER MOLLOY, Glenageary, Co Dublin
Madam, - Thanks to Iva Pocock (June 18th, 21st) for drawing attention to the contrasts between the sugar industries in Ireland and Mozambique with respect to the current reform of Cap.
The reduction of subsidies to EU farmers is necessary to enable producers from developing countries to compete fairly on the world market.
At the same time, these poorer countries must be allowed to give some protection to their local industries, so that they might catch up with our level of development before trade liberalisation applies across the board.
Yet, via the economic partnership agreements currently under negotiation, the EU Commission will force the opening up of developing countries' markets to a flood of European products, and will use an aid package as leverage to achieve it.
While the Commission appears to "do good" for the developing world by reforming Cap, it would be wise to look at what it does alongside this to undermine any competition that might result. - Yours, etc,
JENNIFER SHEEHY SKEFFINGTON Rathfarnham, Dublin 16.
Madam, - Tony Allwright (June 23rd) says that the "EU no longer needs to grow its own food". While this may be strictly true, for the EU to rely exclusively on imports from outside the Union would be an appalling move!
The Union is already at the whim of Middle Eastern sheikhs in terms of the cost and availability of oil. Imagine the same scenario with respect to our food. The €700 which the Cap is claimed to cost each EU family may be a small price to pay for food security.
Certainly the Cap needs restructuring and its costs need to be reduced. The ongoing review process is moving in the right direction and will help in reaching an equitable solution for farmers, consumers and the developing world alike. - Yours, etc,
NED DWYER, Pembroke Grove Passage West, Cork.