There’s been an almost 40% drop in the number of farmers in Clare.
There are now just over 3,400 people working in the agricultural sector in the county, over 2,000 fewer than 20 years ago.
In 1996, there were 5,571 people working in farming, forestry and fishing, the vast majority of those in farming.
But the Census shows that now, that number has dropped by more than two thousand, to 3,423.
The figures, which have been compiled by the Western Development Commission, mirrors the national trend.
But it points to Clare, Connaught and Donegal having suffered to a greater extent than the rest of the country, with an almost 42% drop in farmers across the seven counties, compared to a 33% drop elsewhere.
Pat O’Toole from the Irish Farmers Journal says the decline in the agriculture sector is significant for Clare.
The Clare County Chairman of the ICMSA has expressed serious doubt over the future of farming in this county.
Martin McMahon says the latest figures were to be expected due to a number of factors including a rise in the number of farmers exiting the profession and a lack of incentives for young people to take up farming.
He believes the Government has a part to play in saving the industry.
