The UK government’s recent pledge to increase the agriculture budget has been met with skepticism by farming groups, who claim it falls short of their demands.
The Conservative Party’s manifesto promised to increase the budget by £2 billion, but farming groups argue that this is not enough to address the industry’s pressing issues.
‘This is a welcome step, but it’s not enough to address the crisis facing our industry,’ said a spokesperson for the National Farmers’ Union.
The NFU has been calling for a £5 billion increase in the budget, citing the need for more support for farmers struggling with the impact of Brexit and climate change.
‘We need a comprehensive package of support to help farmers adapt to the new trading environment and mitigate the effects of climate change,’ said the spokesperson.
The government’s pledge has also been criticized for lacking detail on how the increased funding will be allocated.
‘We need to see a clear plan for how this money will be spent, and how it will benefit farmers,’ said a spokesperson for the Country Land and Business Association.
The CLA has been calling for more support for rural businesses, including funding for rural broadband and infrastructure.
‘Rural businesses are the backbone of our economy, and they need support to thrive,’ said the spokesperson.
The government’s pledge has been welcomed by some in the industry, however, with the Farmers’ Union of Wales praising the move as a ‘step in the right direction.’
‘This is a positive step, but we need to see more detail on how the funding will be allocated,’ said a spokesperson for the FUW.
The FUW has been calling for more support for Welsh farmers, including funding for rural development and environmental projects.
‘We need to see a comprehensive package of support that benefits all farmers, regardless of their location or size,’ said the spokesperson.
