Today (16th January 2023) in the Senedd, the Welsh Liberal Democrats have called on the Welsh Government to “stop playing around with farmers futures”.
The party have claimed that a slashing of the Rural Affairs budget, coupled with uncertainty over future Welsh Government grants and schemes, has caused unnecessary stress to farmers across Wales.
Commenting, the Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS said:
Time and time again more stress is being placed on our farmers, many of whom are already nearing breaking point.
From the chaos caused by the uncertainty over a reduction in payments from the Welsh Government to the confusion caused by the revaluation of farms and the axing of vitally needed schemes. Our farmers have been forced to walk a tightrope, whilst being blindfolded.
Our farms are the lifeblood of Wales, without them we as a nation would be hopelessly lost.
So why do the Welsh Government insist on continually leaving them cast aside with the rug being pulled from underneath them? Is this any way to treat these hardworking folk for everything they have done?
If we want to build a sustainable and brighter future for farming in Wales, then we must clear away the uncertainty faced by many working in the agricultural sector and provide a meaningful and reliable avenue of support.
I, alongside many of my farming constituents, was devastated to hear that the Rural Affairs budget is set to be slashed by £37 million. Which could prove to be a terrible blow to the future of agriculture in Wales.
I can only imagine the mental anguish that our farmers will be going through this year, many facing the very real prospect of losing everything both they and their families hold dear to them.
Our rural communities need investment, our farmers need our support.
By supporting farming and agriculture, we can help farmers to continue producing high-quality food, animal welfare standards, and tackling the climate emergency.
It’s time to stop messing around with farmers futures”.
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