Rural economy must be restructured

18 October 2001



Rural economy must be restructured

By FWi staff

THE foot-and-mouth recovery plan unveiled by Lord Haskins fails to address issues preventing a restructuring of the rural economy, say organic farmers.

Soil Association head of agriculture Phil Stocker said the future of UK farming could not be assured without well-planned, long-term measures.

“The recommendations will prop up the rural economy in the short term, but
fail to address some of the fundamental issues needed to restructure it.

“We now need to look at moving towards more local and sustainable farming systems and to decentralise the food chain.

Mr Stocker said there was a desperate need for the government to help farmers make a fresh start by converting to organic production.