Ahead of this week’s budget NFU Cymru will today launch it's manifesto for the forthcoming National Assembly elections.
The Union wants to show potential Assembly Member candidates how important farming and the agricultural industry is to a thriving future rural economy.
Using a jigsaw theme ‘Putting the Pieces in Place for a Productive, Profitable, Progressive Welsh Agricultural Industry,’ NFU Cymru will today (Tuesday) present representatives from each of the main political parties in Wales a copy of its 28-page bilingual manifesto as well as a bilingual jigsaw illustrating the Union’s Key Asks.
Stephen James, NFU Cymru President, said: “We want National Assembly election candidates to familiarise themselves with our priorities. These jigsaws, illustrating our key asks on a map of Wales, along with manifesto, will help get our message across.
“I am immensely proud of the role my colleagues and I play in producing food and caring for our countryside. Agriculture plays a vital role in Wales’ economy.
“Nearly 60,000 people are employed either full or part time on holdings in Wales, with agriculture’s gross output estimated at £1.5bn. Agriculture underpins a food supply chain which is worth £6bn annually.
“Thousands of rural businesses rely on the income generated from providing goods and services to the Welsh farming community.”
Mr James continued: “In putting together our manifesto for the forthcoming National Assembly elections we are setting out NFU Cymru’s vision.
“We would like to see the next National Assembly and Welsh Government help Welsh farmers and rural communities in practical and easily implementable policies, which if adopted will deliver growth and benefits for our countryside and Wales more generally.
“The last few years have proven turbulent for Welsh farming as the various sectors have moved in and out of profitability.
“We have just emerged from a round of CAP reform which has caused some considerable upheaval to the industry, whilst the unresolved question of the UK’s ongoing membership of the EU continues to create an uncertain backdrop for agriculture.
Mr James concluded: “The role for the next Welsh Government is to help nurture the self-confidence that the industry needs to meet these challenges and to create an environment that will encourage investment, innovation and attract new entrants and thereby help secure the industry’s future.”
