THE Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) has claimed the farming sector could create 15,000 jobs by 2020 "with the right support" from politicians.
The body yesterday launched its agriculture manifesto ahead of this year's assembly elections in May.
The group said there was "real potential to significantly develop the industry" and said thousands of new jobs could be created to the benefit of the entire economy.
The manifesto follows the publication of statistics that found average farming income fell by around a half last year.
The document states cash flow followed by price volatility were main concerns for the sector.
UFU president Ian Marshall said: “It is essential politicians look at what can be done in the short term to ease this pressure on farm families, while agreeing to press a new agriculture minister and Executive to address longer term solutions, to bring stability back to farming."
Other key issues in the manifesto include a fair operation of the food supply chain, access to finance, new market development, agrifood marketing, competitiveness, livestock improvement, land mobility/tenure, enhanced research and development and knowledge transfer, livestock and plant disease control programmes, the environment, farm safety, rural services, and the impact of welfare reform on hard-pressed farm families.
The UFU said it would hold hustings event for the UFU's Executive Committee which comprises of Union members across all sectors and from all parts of the north at Loughry College, Cookstown on March 30.
Last month, a report commissioned by the Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers Association (Niapa) and Farmers for Action NI (FFA) called on MLAs to save the sector which it claimed was "on the eve of destruction".
The report, compiled by economist Paul Gosling, said 14 per cent of farms in Northern Ireland are running at a loss.
Among those worst hit were pig farmers (income down 24 per cent), poultry producers (down 19 per cent) while dairy farmers receive 19p per litre of milk, produced at a cost of 27p.
The most recent official statistics showed total farming income fell 40 per cent between 2014 and 2015 from £312m to £183m.
That was less than the total value of subsidies, which were £236m.
