Co-operation vital to farmers survival

By FWi staff

FARMERS have to be a lot more businesslike if they want to survive in the industry, and co-operation has a leading role to play, says the Welsh chairman of the Country Land and Business Association.

David Harden told a CLA conference at Oswestry in Shropshire that those who occupied land had no right to expect to make an automatic living from it.

They had proven their resilience during recent crises, but it was time to face political reality and look honestly at their businesses to assess whether survival was possible.

“The government wants an industry that can stand on its own feet in world terms with reduced public subsidy,” warned Mr Harden.

The fact that the Welsh Assemblys new scheme offering free consultant advice was heavily oversubscribed showed farmers were aware of the reality.

He hoped that producers to give up some of their traditional independence to form co-operatives.

“Farmer co-operation is an essential strategy for earning a better share of commercial margins within the international food market,” he said.