Proper recognition has not been given to the "substantial work" being done by farmers to improve water quality, according to the deputy president of the IFA, Mr Ruaidhrí Deasy.
In Waterford for the launch of the Three Rivers Project, Mr Deasy said water quality reports were showing improvements in surface water quality, with 70 per cent of rivers and 85 per cent of lakes nationally now classified as unpolluted.
He said the root cause of pollution remained insufficient manure storage and handling facilities on some farms, which he insisted was a legacy of bad advice and under-investment over many years.
"Farmers," he continued, "have spent over €2,000 million since 1990 on farm buildings and pollution control. Furthermore, the use of phosphorus fertilisers has changed dramatically, with annual P-fertiliser usage plummeting from a peak of 94,000 tonnes in 1973, to just over 40,000 tonnes in recent years.
"Also, farmers no longer apply phosphorus fertiliser in the autumn months, as they had been advised for many years and which could in wet weather cause a pollution risk."
However, Mr Deasy said he was concerned at the support available to farmers to help them improve farmyards and continue to minimise pollution risks.
Mr Denis McGuire, project co- ordinator with the Three Rivers Project, also defended the role of the farmers.
He said that cleaning up the State's rivers and lakes was everyone's responsibility. The solution would require best management practices from all sectors including urban waste treatment plants and septic tanks owners.
There should also be a review of all existing licensed discharges, he said.
Mr McGuire said that in relation to agricultural pollution, the difficulty was that slurry was spread on land at bad times of the year for absorption while there was also a significant level of pollution from run-off from yards.
While the cost of a holding tank was €22,000 to each farm and raised issues of finance, he said the farmers had been very involved in the strategy and had come up with many ideas which could be implemented at little charge.
