Calls are being made by NFU and Janet Finch-Saunders, Assembly Member for Aberconwy, for an urgent review of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) in Wales. This comes as a result of the Welsh Government’s proposals for post-Brexit farming in Sustainable Farming and our Land.
The proposals under consideration include introducing a Sustainable Farming Scheme, which would include two parts: business support with a focus on advice, capital investment and skills development, and the Sustainable Farming Payment which should reward farmers for meeting outcomes.
Commenting on the situation, Janet said:
“I want to see a productive and profitable farming industry here in Wales.
“Brexit provides an opportunity to tackle serious problems, such as that we only produce enough food to be self-sufficient for 61% of the year.
“Since the publication of Brexit and our Land I have championed the importance of food production in Wales, and been clear that some direct payment is needed, especially so that farmers have help with market volatility.
“Not for one moment do I want control of market prices, but it is reasonable to expect the Welsh Government to have a strategy which is sufficiently flexible to respond to changes in the post-Brexit climate.
“Shockingly, the latest plans still have now stability mechanism, meaning that farmers would be vulnerable to the roller-coaster market.
“Farmers have approached me to express their concern that the Welsh Government’s proposals replicated the Rural Development Programme. When considering that its spend for the 2014-20 period stood at only 41% by the end of August, the ineffectiveness of the model as a means of support seems clear.
“More so, it cannot be right that farmers have had to resort to employing advisers and consultants to help with applications.
“An urgent review of the programme is needed so to establish its effectiveness and clarify how the Welsh Government ought to help sustain and potentially boost the production of high quality food in Wales”.
ENDS
Written Assembly Questions by Janet:
Will the Minister undertake a review of the Rural Development Programme with the aim of providing an analysis of its effectiveness?
Will the Minister explain why only 41% of the money allocated to the Rural Development Programme period 2014-20 has been spent?
Further to Sustainable Farming and our Land will the Minister provide detail of what she regards as being the administrative complexity of the Rural Development Programme?
Documents:
Janet’s Brexit and Our Land Consultation Response (2018)
Notes:
Sustainable Farming and our Land consultation (NFU)
Sustainable Farming and our Land consultation (Welsh Government)
