Christmas Campaign 2010: Farmers Weekly invites readers to help fellow farmers

Farmers Weekly has teamed up with four leading agricultural charities to launch its groundbreaking Farmer to Farmer Christmas charity campaign.

Starting today (5 November) and running until the New Year, Farmers Weekly will be raising awareness of three charities that support rural families in the UK, and one that works with some of the poorest farming families in Africa. Readers will be invited to make donation to the campaign, choosing whether their money goes to causes at home or abroad.

The “home” charity is Farming Help, which provides a broad range of financial help, advice, housing and pastoral care for individuals and families in the British farming community. The charity is a collaboration between the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI), Farm Crisis Network and ARC-Addington Fund.

Representing “abroad” is Send a Cow – a charity that was established by a group of British dairy farmers back in the 1980s – which is now leading the way in small-scale, sustainable agricultural development across Africa. They help some of the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people farm their way out of extreme poverty by providing livestock, seeds, support and training.

“There’s a strong bond between farmers in this country, as well as those around the world,” says Farmlife and Community editor Tim Relf. “Their individual circumstances might vary hugely, but they share an ethic of hard work, a job that involves battling the elements and a passion for providing that most essential of essentials – food.

“Farmers are also a generous lot and have a proud tradition of helping each other, which is why we have has teamed up with some of the countryside’s leading charities to launch this campaign.”

In the UK, a range of factors – including pressure on prices and TB – have had a devastating impact on many rural households. At the same time, developing countries are facing their own unique set of challenges as they struggle to grow crops and livestock – from climate change and disease, to the legacy of years of conflict.

“The run-up to Christmas is a great time to think about others,” adds Tim, “and the arrival of single farm payments in the not-too-distant future might mean farmers can find a little money for this campaign.”

• To find out more and make a donation to Farmers Weekly’s Farmer to Farmer campaign click here.