NI farmers need clear strategy to stop them 'falling off a cliff', assembly told
Farmers in Northern Ireland need a strategy to stop them financially 'falling off the edge of a cliff' once the UK leaves the EU, the assembly has been told.
A joint motion tabled by the Ulster Unionists and Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) demanded ministerial action to secure the long-term sustainability of the industry post-Brexit when 70% of EU funding benefits the rural sector in Northern Ireland.
SDLP assembly member Patsy McGlone called on Agriculture Minister Michelle McIlveen to prevent farmers and the rural sector entering a situation that, by 2020, will leave them financially 'falling of a cliff.'
"That has to be avoided at all costs and, irrespective of what people's views are in relation to Brexit or not to Brexit, we must at all costs avoid that situation."
'Regulated to death'
But the DUP's Edwin Poots claimed farmers had voted 'overwhelmingly' for Brexit and it offered them opportunities, particularly to cut red tape so they could generate more income of their own.
"Northern Ireland farmers voted overwhelmingly to get out of Europe and I think that's something this House needs to reflect upon when they have a debate coming forward on agriculture and rural affairs," he said.
"Farmer after farmer after farmer was saying 'we want to get out of Europe' and why did they want to get out of Europe? Because over the period of the 45 years we were in Europe they managed to invent something like 2,800 different regulations affecting farming.
"That's one for every week we were actually in Europe. They were regulated to death - farmers couldn't get on with the work they needed to do because they were so busy looking at the regulations, they were in fear of some mandarin coming to their farm as a result of the European regulations."
'Broken system'
Agriculture minister Michelle McIlveen said Brexit presented a new opportunity to adopt an independent UK agricultural policy, saying the system already in use in Europe was broken: "My long-term aim for the industry is to promote a sustainable, competitive, high-performing, knowledge-based agri-food sector that is prosperous and compliant.
"That means the sector will be more resilient to shocks and challenges, have high standards of animal health and welfare, deliver for the environment and have increased market access for agri-food products.
"It's quite clear we are not going to have a system like the one we currently have and why would we copy a system that is broken and not working for many of our farmers?
"This creates the opportunity for us to look at a different type of agricultural policy for the UK which will provide the necessary incentives for our farmers moving forward," Miss McIlveen concluded.
