Dublin: The Irish government’s decision to slaughter cows en masse to meet its climate change targets has sparked strong protests from farmers.
The Irish plan to cull cows comes as part of the European Green Deal on climate change. The EU has pledged to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55% by 2030. The current nitrate derogation limit is 250 kg of organic nitrogen per hectare. The new procedure is expected to reduce nitrate levels to 220 kg per hectare.
Within three years, the government hopes to reduce the number of cattle in the country by 10%. Every year, 65000 cows are killed. Farmers have taken to the streets in protest.
Cows provide 70% of the income for average farmers. They make a 30% profit. Farmers say that by reducing the number of cows, the expenses of the farmers cannot be reduced. It will only increase.
More than 2,000 people attended a protest rally in Bandon, expressing their disappointment and concern about the government’s decision. Farmers arrived at the protest on foot, in trucks, and in tractors. Thousands of farmers are taking part in protest programmes in all of Ireland’s major cities. Participants from all over gathered in West Cork Town, Limerick, and Kilkenny on foot, in tractors, and in trucks.
Apart from the dairy farm owners, farmers from other sectors also participated in the protest.
IFA Poultry Chairman Nigel Sweetnam said that this problem is not only damaging to dairy farmers but also to the rural economy. Conor O’Leary, president of the Irish Farmers’ Association in Cork Central, also said the decision would put many farmers in crisis.
Elon Musk, the CEO of Twitter, spoke out against the government’s strange proposal. Musk responded on Twitter that it is a great evil to kill mute animals because of climate change.
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