Farmers go to Holyrood
FARMERS are taking to the streets for a rally that champions food production at Holyrood, in Edinburgh, on Wednesday, November 2.
NFU Scotland is hoping hundreds of members will descend on the capital from 12 noon-2pm to deliver a ‘crystal-clear message to the Scottish Parliament, Scottish Government, MSPs and officials that farming, crofting and food production must be a central pillar of its new agricultural policy for Scotland.’
The rally coincides with the Scottish Government’s consultation on a future agricultural policy, which has been criticised for a lack of detail and not enough farming focus by some in the agricultural community.
NFU Scotland president, Martin Kennedy, said: “The Scottish Government consultation on a new Agriculture Bill is a critical step on the road to a new agricultural policy and determining fundamental changes to how farming and crofting will be supported in the future. But farmers and crofters are being asked to discuss these massive issues in an information vacuum.
“It remains hugely frustrating that despite several requests from NFUS and other stakeholders we’ve yet to receive clarity as to how any new powers created by the proposed new Agriculture Bill will put food production at the heart of delivering all the economic, social and environmental benefits that active agricultural businesses will be asked to deliver.
“The Scottish Parliament must acknowledge that farming and crofting have the answers when it comes to delivering high quality, local, sustainable, and affordable food and at the same time delivering for the public on climate change and biodiversity,” said Mr Kennedy.
“NFUS has been unequivocal that the new powers must be used to target future direct support at active farming and crofting – both to provide financial stability through post-Brexit turbulence and severe market volatility and to reward actions that improve productivity and build resilience.
“Only farmers and crofters across Scotland can turn the dry legislation of a new Agriculture Bill into practices that deliver for food, climate and nature but we need to know now what those options look like,” he said.
“The lack of recognition of our industry and all it delivers is unacceptable and fails to acknowledge the urgent need to address the worsening food security crisis. We are holding this rally to drive home the message that #FoodNeedsAFarmer.
Ahead of the rally, union members in all parts of Scotland will be using their fields, buildings, fences, tattie boxes and bales in a visual campaign to remind the nation of farmers’ vital food producing role.
All those wishing to attend the rally are advised to contact their regional manager and a number of buses have been organised for the event.
The last time the union marched on parliament was eight weeks before a Scottish election on March 10, 2016, when 250 farmers descended on Edinburgh, led by former president, Allan Bowie, in the midst of the troubled digital delivery of support payments after the last major reform of the CAP.