Basic payments are 'lifeblood' of Northern Ireland farming industry, MP says
Direct payments must be maintained as part of the support mechanism available to farmers in Northern Ireland beyond 2020, according to an MP.
South Down MP Margaret Ritchie said that basic payments are the ‘lifeblood’ of the industry.
Britain may radically overhaul agricultural policy after it leaves the European Union and the bloc may have to make changes too when it loses Britain’s net contributions to the region's farming budget.
For the first time in decades, farmers in Britain will have to fight for a slice of government funds with departments such as health and education once Brussels hands over economic matters for farming to London.
Farming is a big part of life in Northern Ireland. Around 48,000 people are employed in the sector and total gross output for agriculture last year reached more than 2 billion euros. But the industry is at risk.
A loss of EU subsidies and the threat of a hard border with the Republic of Ireland has Northern Irish farmers concerned.
'Bespoke solution'
According to Ritchie, who is a member of the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee in London, the current basic payment scheme, which is funded by the European Union, is the lifeblood of agriculture across Northern Ireland.
“Our farming industry is structured differently, compared with that which exists in other parts of the UK and this means that we need a bespoke solution when it comes to supporting both our agriculture and food sectors post Brexit,” she said.
“This is why I will be arguing strongly for the retention of a direct payment support structure once the current EU funding model comes under full Whitehall scrutiny. The current basic payment system will remain in place until 2020.”
Justify demands
EFRA chairman Neil Parish MP has said that the farming industry would have to justify its demands for future support to the general public, once Brexit becomes a reality.
“This is why agriculture must clearly demonstrate that it is fully committed to maintaining the highest standards of environmental protection and conservation. The cheap food argument, however, is not one that resonates with the British public when it comes to arguing the case for them supporting agriculture.”
He added: “There will be a fair degree of flexibility given to the UK’s regional assemblies when it comes to putting in place farm support models that reflect local need.”
In 2015, British farmers received 3.25 billion euros from the EU’s agriculture fund in direct payments based chiefly on the amount of land they farm and not on individual needs.
The government has guaranteed payments will be maintained until 2020 but farming and environment minister Andrea Leadsom has warned there will be a major policy overhaul when the EU subsidies stop.
