Welsh incomes at negative levels
12 February 2001
Welsh incomes at negative levels
By FWi staff
ANGRY Welsh farmers leaders have rounded on the Government after new figures reveal that farm incomes have plummeted into negative levels in the principality.
Total Income From Farming (TIFF) statistics released by the National Assembly for Wales have fallen 60 million in the last year to minus 2.6m.
This collapse follows a 11m drop the previous year.
Farmers leaders said this demonstrated the unsustainable position, in which the price received by farmers is less than the cost of production.
National Farmers Union Cymru president Hugh Richards said the figures showed that the Governments fiscal policy “is decimating our industry”.
And Farmers Union of Wales president Bob Parry said the slump reinforced the unions claim that “farming in this country is on the verge of a disaster”.
The Assembly blamed the reduction in TIFF on a fall in the value of output – including subsidies directly related to products. This was down 6%, or 58 million.
This is attributable to a reduction the value of certain livestock due to market conditions, and the weakness of the Euro against the Pound, said the FUW.
Mr Parry urged politicians to claim agrimoney and grants to encourage young people to enter the industry, and to push for high-quality branded Welsh produce.
He said: “We simply cannot continue farming and making a loss.”
Mr Richards lambasted ministers for “wasting time” on increasing additional bureaucracy and trying to ban hunting instead of fighting for agriculture.
He warned: “Politicians talk of diversification, niche marketing, and co-operation as they way ahead, but I fear that for many in our industry it may be too late.”
Mr Richards added: “As we approach a General Election, my members are asking one question. Why has the Government turned its back on agriculture and our rural areas?”
In January a government census showed that Welsh farming workforce has fallen more than 10% to 55,700 in two years.