MENTER MOCH CYMRU YN MYND Â CHYNHYRCHWYR PORC O GYMRU I DDYFNAINT

Mae Menter Moch Cymru (MMC) yn rhoi cyfle i gynhyrchwyr moch ddysgu gan rai o gynhyrchwyr mwyaf llwyddiannus ac arloesol y DU fel rhan o daith astudio i Ddyfnaint yn ddiweddarach y mis hwn.

Bydd y daith astudio am dridiau yn Nyfnaint (Mawrth 28-30) yn cynnwys ymweliadau â chynhyrchwyr porc, proseswyr, a manwerthwyr sydd wedi datblygu cyfleoedd marchnad arloesol.

Dyma’r daith astudio gyntaf i MMC ei chynnal ers dyfodiad y Covid-19, a bydd llawer o’r siaradwyr gwadd yn rhannu eu profiadau o weithredu mewn pandemig a sut mae bod yn wydn ac ymaddasol wedi eu galluogi i ddod i’r brig.

Mae Dyfnaint wedi sefydlu ei hun fel cyrchfan bwyd poblogaidd i dwristiaid yn y DU, gyda’i siopau fferm o safon uchel a thafarndai gastro sydd wedi ennill gwobrau.

Mae’r daith yn cynnwys ymweliad â River Cottage, y tyddyn organig a sefydlwyd gan y cogydd, y newyddiadurwr a’r ymgyrchydd bwyd Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. Bydd y grŵp MMC yn mwynhau cwrs ‘Cyflwyniad i Charcuterie’ ymarferol a gyflwynir gan y crefftwr blaenllaw Steve Williams.

Ar y deithlen mae ymweliad â fferm a chigydd arobryn Pipers Farm, sy’n cyrchu cig gan ffermwyr ar raddfa fach ledled Gorllewin Lloegr. Bydd y grŵp MMC hefyd yn mynd i The Meat Box Company yn Elston Farm, lle byddant yn gweld lladd-dy symudol cyntaf y DU wedi’i gymeradwyo’n llawn ac yn clywed am gynaliadwyedd a phrosiectau ymchwil y fferm – yn enwedig sivopasture, masnachu carbon a ffermio adfywiol.

Mae’r daith astudio hefyd yn cynnwys Ben’s Farm Shop, sy’n cynnwys Riverford Farm, pedair siop fferm a bar tapas. Yno, bydd y grŵp yn cael blas ar borc lleol a chlywed stori Ben’s Farm Shop gan y perchennog Harry Watson. Hefyd yn siarad yn ystod yr ymweliad bydd y ffermwr Simon Price, sydd â mwy na 40 mlynedd o brofiad o gynhyrchu moch maes. Mae Simon yn cyflenwi nifer o allfeydd adnabyddus a bydd yn rhannu mewnwelediad i’w ddulliau ffermio, ei ymrwymiad i arferion ffermio cynaliadwy a’r gwersi y mae wedi’u dysgu ar hyd y ffordd.

Mae yna hefyd ymweliad â Kenniford Farm, sy’n adnabyddus am ei phorc lles uchel arobryn, ei siop ar-lein a’i fusnes arlwyo a rhostio mochyn llwyddiannus.

Yn ystod eu harhosiad yn Nyfnaint, bydd y grŵp yn cyfarfod a chlywed gan John Sheaves, Prif Swyddog Gweithredol Taste of the West, y grŵp bwyd rhanbarthol annibynnol mwyaf yn y DU. Mae Taste of the West yn cynnal cynllun gwobrau blynyddol ac yn hyrwyddo cynnyrch lleol.

Dywedodd Melanie Cargill, Rheolwr Prosiect Menter Moch Cymru, “Gall treulio amser yn ymweld â busnesau eraill fod yn ffordd werthfawr o ddarganfod gwell dulliau o weithio. Mae’n gyfle i weld arfer gorau ar waith a dod â syniadau newydd yn ôl i arloesi eich menter.

“Mae llawer o gynhyrchwyr moch yn Nyfnaint yn rhannu heriau tebyg i rai Cymru. Mae’n ardal sy’n frith o unedau moch bach sy’n cynhyrchu porc o frid prin traddodiadol o ansawdd uchel.”

Mae teithiau astudio blaenorol yr MMC wedi rhoi syniadau a chyngor ymarferol i gynhyrchwyr o Gymru sydd wedi mynd ymlaen i’w defnyddio ar eu ffermydd eu hunain.

Dywedodd cynhyrchydd o Sir Fynwy, Kyle Holford o Forest Coalpit Farm a deithiodd i Gernyw gyda MMC ar daith astudio flaenorol,

 “Roedd y daith astudio yn ysbrydoledig. Roedd yn dda gweld enghreifftiau a chamau amrywiol o gynhyrchu porc a chadwyni cyflenwi. Cefais lawer o awgrymiadau a syniadau defnyddiol y byddaf yn eu defnyddio ar fy fferm. Fe wnes i hefyd gysylltiadau gwych â ffermwyr o’r un meddylfryd.”

Dywedodd cyd-aelod o daith flaenorol Mark Evans: “Prif uchafbwynt y daith imi oedd y rhyngweithio a’r drafodaeth rhwng aelodau’r grŵp. Roedd yr holl ymweliadau yn ysbrydoledig ac yn rhoi llawer inni siarad amdano. Mae gennyf lawer o ganllawiau i’w dilyn yn dilyn y trafodaethau.”

Cynhelir y daith astudio am dri diwrnod rhwng dydd Llun 28ain a dydd Mercher 30ain o Fawrth a chaiff ei sybsideiddio’n helaeth gan brosiect MMC; felly, dim ond yn costio £60 y/p. Mae hyn yn cynnwys 2 noson o lety, cludiant, prydau bwyd a phob ymweliad a sgwrs.

Ychwanegodd Melanie Cargill, “Mae hwn yn gyfle gwych i geidwaid moch yng Nghymru i ymweld â llu o fusnesau gwybodus ac ysbrydoledig. Mae’r digwyddiad wedi’i drefnu gyda cheidwaid moch bach a chanolig mewn golwg, sy’n gwerthu’n uniongyrchol neu drwy gadwyni cyflenwi byr. Er bod croeso mawr i unrhyw randdeiliaid o fewn y sector fynychu. Bydd y rhaglen orlawn yn sicr yn gadael y mynychwyr gyda syniadau ymarferol y gallent eu rhoi ar waith yn eu busnesau eu hunain.

Ewch i www.mentermochcymru.co.uk neu ffoniwch 07494 478 652 am fwy o wybodaeth.

Ariennir Menter Moch Cymru gan Gymunedau Gwledig Llywodraeth Cymru – Rhaglen Datblygu Gwledig 2014-2020 a ariennir gan Gronfa Amaethyddol Ewrop ar gyfer Datblygu Gwledig a Llywodraeth Cymru.

MENTER MOCH CYMRU TAKES WELSH PORK PRODUCERS TO DEVON

Menter Moch Cymru (MMC) is giving pig producers the opportunity to learn from some of the most successful and innovative producers in the UK as part of a study tour to Devon later this month.

The three-day Devon study tour (March 28th-30th) includes visits to pork producers, processors, and retailers who have developed innovative market opportunities.

It is the first study tour undertaken by MMC since the advent of the Covid-19, and many of the guest speakers will share their experiences of operating in a pandemic and how being resilient and adaptive has enabled them to come out on top.

Devon has established itself as a popular food tourist destination within the UK, with its high-end farm shops and award-winning gastro pubs. 

The tour includes a visit to River Cottage, the organic smallholding established by chef, journalist and food campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. The MMC group will enjoy a practical ‘Introduction to Charcuterie’ course delivered by leading artisan charcutier Steve Williams.

On the itinerary is a visit to award-winning farm and butcher Pipers Farm, which sources meat from small scale farmers across the West Country. The MMC group will also go to The Meat Box Company at Elston Farm, where they will see the UK’s first fully approved mobile abattoir and hear about the farm’s sustainability and research projects – particularly sivopasture, carbon trading and regenerative farming.

The study tour also takes in Ben’s Farm Shop, which comprises of Riverford Farm, four farm shops and a tapas bar. There, the group will get to sample local pork and hear Ben’s Farm Shop’ story from owner Harry Watson. Also speaking during the visit will be farmer Simon Price, who has more than 40 years-experience producing free-range pigs. Simon supplies a number of well-known as prestigious outlets and will share insights into his farming methods, his commitment to sustainable farming practices and the lessons he’s learnt along the way.

There is also a visit to Kenniford Farm, known for its award-winning higher welfare pork, online shop and successful catering and hog roast business.

During their stay in Devon, the group will meet and hear from John Sheaves, CEO of Taste of the West, the largest independent regional food group in the UK. Taste of the West runs an annual awards scheme and promotes and champions local products.

Melanie Cargill, Menter Moch Cymru Project Manager, said, “Spending time visiting other businesses can be a valuable way to discover improved methods of working.  It is an opportunity to see best practice in action and bring back fresh ideas to innovate your enterprise.

“Many of the pig producers in Devon share similar challenges to those in Wales. It is a region peppered with small pig units producing high-quality, traditional and rare breed pork.”

Previous MMC study tours have provided Welsh producers with ideas and practical advice which they have gone on to apply at their own farms.

Monmouthshire producer Kyle Holford of Forest Coalpit Farm who travelled to Cornwall with MMC on a previous study tour said, “The study tour was inspiring. It was good to see various examples and stages of pork production and supply chains. I gained many helpful tips and ideas that I will apply to my farm. I also made some great contacts with similarly minded farmers.”

Fellow previous tour member Mark Evans, said, “Main highlight was the interaction and discussion between the group members.All the visits were inspirational and gave much food for thought.I have many leads to follow subsequent to the discussions.”

The three-day study tour takes place between Monday 28^th – Wednesday 30^th March and is heavily subsidised by the MMC project; therefore, only costing £60 p/p. This includes 2 nights’ accommodation, transport, meals and all visits and talks.

Melanie Cargill added, “This is a fantastic opportunity for pig keepers in Wales to visit a host of knowledgeable and inspiring businesses. The event has been arranged with small-to-medium pig keepers in mind, who sell direct or through short supply chains. Although any stakeholders within the sector are very welcome to attend. The packed programme will certainly leave attendees with food for thought and practical ideas they could implement within their own businesses.”

Visit www.mentermochcymru.co.uk or phone 07494 478 652 for more information.

Established in 2017, Menter Moch Cymru is funded by the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.