Why Britain can’t recruit enough farm workers

sir – I was interested to read Philip Johnston’s article (Comment, April 29) on farmers’ difficulties in recruiting seasonal workers. I was the contract manager for the Home Office’s Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (Saws) for 10 years until 2013, and visited more than 400 British farms.

There was a universal feeling among growers that local workers were difficult to recruit, and that those they did get gave up after a few days.

Saws was popular among students in countries outside the EU, and British growers prized their reliability and hard work. However, the government was caught out in 2007 by the EU’S community preference rules, which meant no more Saws visas were allowed. In 2018, a limited version of Saws was reintroduced involving 2,500 workers, extended to 10,000 this year. Saws recruitment has collapsed in the current crisis – hence the focus on British nationals.

That 50,000 people applied to “Pick for Britain” and only 112 were recruited says it all. Mr Johnston mentions “restrictions and conditions” that put off applicants. These relate to being physically fit enough, and include health and safety training. You can no longer just turn up at a farm, ask for a job and get cracking.

Farmers would welcome the return of the old Saws model, and the chance to recruit reliable, hard-working young people. Problems will continue unless something like Saws is allowed for at least 50,000 people per year.

Richard Cheeseman Sheffield, South Yorkshire