Farming future for Northern Isles must be priority of new CAP (Gordon Liberal Democrats)

Gordon Liberal Democrats <info@libdems.org.uk>

Farming future for Northern Isles must be priority of new CAP

August 9, 2010 4:16 PM
Originally published by George Lyon - Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland

FARMING FUTURE FOR NORTHERN ISLES MUST BE PRIORITY OF NEW CAP - LYON

George Lyon, Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland, attended the Voe Agricultural Show on Saturday to reiterate the importance of farming and crofting in the Northern Isles. NFU Shetland organised a meeting between local farmers and crofters and Mr Lyon who successfully piloted through his report on CAP reform in the European Parliament.

Local President Katherine Sinclair chaired the well attended event where many questions were asked about future farm support, sheep EID, animal transport and the problems with the Scottish Governments Rural Development Programme.

Commenting, Mr Lyon said:

"Without continued support local food production in Less Favoured Areas across Europe would all but disappear."

"If that were to happen it would have a disastrous impact on the rural economy in Scotland and especially in the Northern Isles of Shetland and Orkney."

"One of the key priorities I set out in my report on the future of the CAP was the need for continued strong support for local food production through both LFA payments and direct payments. These are fundamental to the future sustainability of crofting and farming in the Northern Isles."

"I also argued for all farmers and crofters especially to be able to join agri-environment schemes which help both the environmental and the viability of many crofting and farming businesses."

"This would end the short term nonsense of the current SRDP programme where many individuals are coming to the end of their ESA and RSS schemes with no prospect of being able to renew or roll over into a new one."

"If the environmental benefits of these schemes are to be realised they must be long term in nature in order to deliver their objectives. Many crofters bitterly complained about EID and I gave them an assurance that the fight for changes to the scheme will continue."

Ends.