The current system of subsidies, although much reformed, is still skewed in favour of richer farmers and works to the detriment of developing countries and at a high cost to the national economy, Professor Alan Matthews of Trinity College, Dublin told the National Forum in Europe conference on the future of the EU model of farming.

With 98pc of Irish farm income coming from Exchequer or EU subsidies, and just 2pc from the business of farming, there is clearly a huge challenge for its future, he said.

The Common Agricultural Policy currently paid more than 85pc of its payments to fewer than 20pc of farmers in Europe, and even in Ireland farmers in the south and east received more than those in the border, midlands and west.

Source: Irish Independent