New optimism for Scotland’s farmers

Scottish farmers are to receive more than £5m in support, including £3m to off-set addition costs when they were forced to move livestock following the collapse of buildings during the recent severe weather.

A further £1.4m is to go to land based skills development and training and £250,000 to education schoolchildren on the link between farming and food. And Scotland’s £12m raspberry industry will receive almost £400,000 to boost the industry. In addition, £15m is to be brought forward from the Scotland Rural Development Programme business development budget to allow more farmers to invest in their farms now.

Speaking at the National Farmers Union Scotland annual general meeting Rural Affairs Secretary, Richard Lochhead, said that Scotland’s farmers have a valuable role to play in Scottish society, with the potential to feed the nation, power the economy and improve the environment.

« That is why this Government is fully committed to supporting the industry and why we have taken action to ensure the sector can develop from strength to strength, » he continued. « We have sat round the table with the industry – worked with our farmers – and together found distinct solutions which work in the best interests of Scottish agriculture and Scotland as a whole.

« The fundamental economic drivers for the farming sector are strong and future prospects are good. The population is growing, demand for food is increasing and the global economic recovery is gaining pace. »

Source : Public service