We’re on your side, PM to tell farmers

RISHI Sunak is set to pledge he will “never take our food security for granted” as he outlines support for farmers in a speech to the sector.

Speaking to the National Farmers’ Union conference today, the Prime Minister is expected to say the Government will “be by their side” as farming goes through its biggest change in a generation.

Mr Sunak will highlight £427 million in grants in 2024, including doubling the amount going to technology and innovation schemes to support farmers increase productivity - including as robotics, roof-top solar and agricultural research.

The money is part of the Government’s commitment to maintain support for English farming at pre-Brexit levels of £2.4 billion a year.

And he will announce cuts to “red tape” around permitted development rights to make it easier for farmers to develop buildings and diversify earnings by creating farm shops, commercial spaces and sporting venues.

His speech comes in the wake of polling which found Labour had narrowly overtaken the Tories among countryside voters, who also felt neither main party understood rural communities.

Farmers have been dealing with the impacts of soaring costs of inputs including fuel and fertiliser since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, along with the move to a new post-Brexit regime of farming payments that focus on sustainable agriculture.

Mr Sunak is expected to tell farmers: “While the importance of farmers will never change - farming is going through its biggest change in a generation.

“And as farmers do so, this government will be by their side.

“They have been dealing with soaring global prices in things like fuel and fertiliser.

“So, we’ve been working hard to get inflation down - from 11.1% last year to 4% now.

“And we’re increasing payments in our farming schemes by an average of 10%.”

“They are also at the forefront of innovation - from gene editing to boost resilience to disease, to automation to help harvest crops.

“And while thanks to you we enjoy good quality food all year round, global events - including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - have put food security back at the top of the agenda. We’ll never take our food security for granted.”

The PM will add: “I know how important my neighbours - our farmers - truly are.

“You help to employ millions, add billions to our economy, shape the landscape, but most of all, you produce the food we need - food that is some of the best and highest quality anywhere in the world.”

The Government will publish an annual food security index in the spring.