Tenancy Working Group welcomed

NFU Cymru has welcomed confirmation from the Minister for Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths MS, that Welsh Government will set up a Tenancy Working Group in Wales.

Last month NFU Cymru held a tenants’ seminar, where the union called for the formation of a designated group to explore the specific issues affecting the tenanted sector in Wales and the full range of tenancy and rental agreements those farmers work within.

In a written response to NFU Cymru’s request, the Minister for Rural Affairs agreed a new tenants’ working group would be ‘helpful’ in considering potential barriers to scheme entry for all types of tenancy arrangements.

NFU Cymru president Aled Jones said: “The introduction of new Welsh agricultural policy has left many tenant farmers apprehensive as to how these changes may affect them in the future. The union identified that a focus was needed as part of these plans to ensure the unique and varied positions of those in the tenanted sector was accounted for in the development of future policy. It is pleasing, therefore, that Welsh Government has agreed to establish a new Tenant Working Group to address any matters specific to the tenanted sector.

“I was also really pleased to see the Minister, in her letter to NFU Cymru, once again reiterate her position that ‘if the Sustainable Farming Scheme does not work for the tenanted sector then it does not work at all’, which echoes the statements she made in her keynote speech at our seminar last month. With an estimated 30% of land in Wales under some form of tenancy agreement, it is vital that we get this right to ensure a vibrant farming industry for the future.

“NFU Cymru will continue to work closely with Welsh Government to ensure that policy reform works for all Welsh farmers and the broad range of land tenure we have here in Wales.”

The Minister has said that the new Tenancy Working Group will be set up following Welsh Government’s publication of the outline of its Sustainable Farming Scheme in July.