Students having second thoughts about farming
4 February 2000
Students having second thoughts about farming
ONE-THIRD of final year students finishing agricultural courses this summer have changed their minds about staying in farming.
According to a new survey by the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs, 32% of final year students will not pursue their career path because they feel there are insufficient opportunities or the financial rewards are not good enough.
But 95% of those who responded said they would like to stay on in the rural sectors if they were given the chance.
The survey, which was carried out as part of the Putting the Young back into Farming campaign, found that students were disillusioned about their futures because of economic conditions and a lack of government help.
Of those who responded 97% felt the government should do more to help young farmers.
Young Farmers spokesman Jim Powell said the results showed the government needed to act quickly in order to keep young people in the industry.
"If help is not given, and given fast, a whole generation of young people will be lost. These people are the very ones who have been educated to cope with the current situation of a market-orientated, environmentally friendly agriculture and we simply cannot afford to lose them," he said.
The government should positively discriminate toward young farmers and introduce installation aids, he argued.
Shadow farm minister Tim Yeo described the results as chilling.
"If the next generation is as pessimistic as this, then some of the best people will drift off. It will be a tragedy for the industry."
Meanwhile, the Institute of Grocery Distribution is inviting young farmers to join their network of 20 to 35-year-old managers who meet on a quarterly basis to discuss key issues in the industry. *