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Farmers facing the future
19/02/2010
Scotland's farmers have a valuable role to play in Scottish society, with the potential to feed the nation, power the economy and improve the environment.
Rural Affairs Secretary, Richard Lochhead, speaking at the National Farmers Union Scotland annual general meeting, said that the farming industry could look forward to a strong future and announced over £5 million in additional support for farming. This included:
- £3 million to off-set additional costs to farmers forced to move livestock following the collapse of buildings during the recent severe weather
- £250,000 to educate schoolchildren across Scotland on the link between farming and the food on their plates
- more than £1.4 million for land based skills development and training
- almost £400,000 for a five year development programme to boost the £12 million raspberry industry
In addition, £15 million will be brought forward from the Scotland Rural Development Programme business development budget to allow more farmers to invest in their farms now.
Mr Lochhead said:
"Agriculture has a fundamental role to play in Scotland's future.
"That is why this Government is fully committed to supporting the industry and why we have taken action to ensure the sector can develop from strength to strength.
"We have sat round the table with the industry - worked with our farmers - and together found distinct solutions which work in the best interests of Scottish agriculture and Scotland as a whole.
"Last year we published 'Recipe for Success', Scotland's first ever national food and drink policy. Much has already been achieved, but 2010 can be the year people start to really believe that Scotland is a land of food and drink.
"The fundamental economic drivers for the farming sector are strong and future prospects are good. The population is growing, demand for food is increasing and the global economic recovery is gaining pace.
"Independent surveys chart the level of optimism among farmers at its equal highest. Investment in 2009 was much higher than anticipated and significant expansion is planned across most sectors in 2010.
"There will be challenges ahead to be faced, for instance on prices in the cereal sector. My pledge is to continue to work with the industry, to face up to the challenges ahead, and fight for what is best for Scotland in London and Brussels."
The National Farmers Union Scotland annual general meeting took place in the Fairmont St Andrews Hotel on Thursday February 18 and Friday February 19.
An additional £3 million has been made available to off-set the costs to farmers whose buildings collapsed during the recent severe weather. The Cabinet Secretary has acted on the recommendations of the Collapsed Building Technical Working Group and agreed to make payments of up to £6,000 per business available to farmers to cover costs, including the uninsurable expense of having to rent or provide temporary structures for livestock. The Scottish Government has written to planning authorities stressing the importance of dealing with applications swiftly to rebuild snow-damaged buildings.
Almost £250,000 is being invested in organisations that work with teachers and school children to boost wider knowledge of the food and drink sector. This package will support the Royal Highland Education Trust and the Scottish Food and Drink Federation to work with schools on food and farming events. It will also support the International Eco Schools Conference in Scotland where Food and Drink is one of the key themes.
Lantra has been awarded a three year skills development grant, worth £463,000 per year, to help farm businesses secure skilled staff through Modern Apprenticeships. Lantra is the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for environmental and land-based industries. The Scottish Government funds the organisation under a three year contract to improve skills development for business with the current money covering the organisation to 2013. Lantra has eight staff based at offices near Scone.
The Scottish Government has awarded the Raspberry Breeding Consortium £395,000 towards a £1 million, five year raspberry breeding programme designed to strengthen the success of the sector. Membership of the Consortium, is drawn from a wide range of interests within the soft fruit industry including the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board - Horticultural Development Company, plant propagators, soft fruit growers and Mylnefield Research Services - the commercial arm of the Scottish Crop Research Institute.