Last Wednesday, 18th May, more than 30 people attended a workshop for the EU Ploutos project held in O’Sullivans Bar, Garraí na dTor, Lispole. This project is all about working with local farms interested in starting agri-food or agri-tourism businesses. Sensor technologies installed on farms can provide useful data that helps new products be marketed.
The meeting heard farmer’s views and experiences with the sensors to date, as well as their ideas about future developments. The idea of creating a bio-district for Dingle Peninsula was also discussed, which would increase the amount of organic farming here.
The gathering heard the experiences of Kate Carmody, an organic dairy farmer who has also begun to grow hemp on her land. She told the group that she now receives more for her milk, despite milking 20 cows rather than 70.
With lively debate and great feedback received, discussions lasted well into the night.
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Ar an gCéadaoin seo caite, 18 Bealtaine, bhí breis agus 30 duine i láthair do cheardlann bainteach le Tionscadal Ploutos de chuid an AE. Reachtáladh an cheardlann i dTabhairne Uí Shúilleabháin i nGarraí na dTor, Lios Póil. Baineann Tionscadal Ploutos le bheith ag obair le feirmeacha áitiúla go bhfuil spéis acu gnónna agrabia nó agrathurasóireachta a thosnú. Is féidir le teicneolaíocht bhraiteora ar fheirmeacha eolas áisiúil a sholáthar a chabhraíonn chun margaíocht a dhéanamh ar tháirgí nua.
Chuala an cruinniú seo dearcadh agus taithí feirmeoirí leis na braiteoirí seo, chomh maith lena smaointí faoi conas iad a fhorbairt amach anseo. Pléadh an smaoineamh bith-cheantar a chruthú i gCorca Dhuibhne, rud a chuirfeadh borradh faoin méid feirmeoireachta orgánaí a bhíonn ar siúl anseo.
Chuala an slua ó Kate Carmody faoina taithí mar fheirmeoir déiríochta órganaí atá tosnaithe ag fás cnáibe ar a cuid talún. D’inis sí don ngrúpa go mbíonn sí ag fáil níos mó airgid as a cuid bainne anois, in ainneoin a bheith ag crú 20 seachas 70 bó mar a bhíodh.
Le plé bríomhar agus aiseolas iontach, lean an cadráil i bhfad amach san oíche.
