It is a truth universally acknowledged that when the ideologues get going, you better watch out.
Thus it is with the ever increasing rounds of cuts being imposed from the Westminster government under the guise of avoiding economic meltdown by slashing the national debt.
The swingeing cuts that have been applied in all areas have strained the very fabric of society.
Recently the news has filtered out that new cuts emanating from DARDNI are planned. One target in the headlights is the AFBI research institute in Loughgall.
Stalker has heard that the powers that be consider the mushroom and horticultural research unit to be redundant because “it has no customer base”.
Strange indeed that a scientifically productive and industry focussed research unit should be under the kosh, considering it has been invaluable to the agri-food sector in Northern Ireland and beyond.
It seems like the ideologues have got the full set of blinkers on, and are cutting funds and cutting the legs off the very pillars of the institutions which help keep the agri-sector on an even keel.
If the horticulture and mushroom sector want to retain this precious resource for the future, then now is the time to make it known.
Time to shout, shout, and let it all the out, as the song goes!
