Edward Mountain MSP has urged the Scottish Government to “act with urgency and more openness” about the development of the new farming policy, due to be drafted next year.
The Highlands and Islands MSP raised the issue of accelerating the delivery of a new farming policy to support the industry through the unprecedented price spikes it is experiencing for feed, fuel and fertiliser.
The SNP’s Rural Secretary reiterated that the current Scottish farming policy, known as ‘Simplicity and Stability’ will remain in place through to 2025, while the new agriculture bill will be consulted upon and drafted next year.
During Portfolio Questions, Edward Mountain MSP asked:
“One way of preventing food shortages is empowering farmers to plan for the future, something they can’t do at the moment as they wait until 2024 for the Government’s future policy. Failure to speed things up is not good for our farmers and food producers who have worked tirelessly, especially during the pandemic. Is the Cabinet Secretary prepared to meet as soon as possible with Opposition parties to explain how this policy development is progressing and discuss whether the date for putting it into action can be brought forward?”
The SNP’s Rural Secretary reiterated that the current Scottish farming policy, known as ‘Simplicity and Stability’ will remain in place through to 2025, while the new agriculture bill will be consulted upon and drafted next year.
The Rural Secretary added:
“I think it’s really important in terms of the process that we are following at the moment, we are of course discussing our future policy and co-development is a critical part of that. The ARIOB Board [Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board] is essential, because I think it is really vital that when it comes to developing our future mechanisms for support that we do that with the people that it is going to most effect, so I would say that’s what is critically important as we move through this, that we undertake and go through that co-development process when it comes to designing our future policy.
Following Portfolio Questions, Edward Mountain MSP commented:
“I’m disappointed that the Cabinet Secretary gave no commitment to meet with Opposition parties to detail how the development of the new farming policy is progressing.
“Frankly, that’s not good enough. Farmers are facing the twin challenges of a cost of living crisis and ambitious climate change targets, but are being left in the dark about the direction of the new farming policy.
“To wait until 2024 for legislation to pass is too long. The current policy of ‘Simplicity and Stability’ has had its day. It’s time for the Scottish Government to wake up to that fact and act with urgency and more openness.
“Farmers are struggling with unprecedented input costs and need a new policy to be accelerated to deal with the challenges they are facing right now.”
