Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government has laid out a five year strategy that will provide certainty and security for businesses, land managers and producers in our rural communities. In the short term measures to help cash flow through Basic Payment Scheme loans starting last October and loans for the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme due to start in April. Additionally, in the last twelve months, we have provided over £100 million of support for food production in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has already put a range of measures in place for those sectors experiencing income challenges. This includes a new strategy for the Scottish pig industry which was launched at the Royal Highland Show in June 2018; funding under the Food Processing Marketing and Co-operation Grant Scheme for which the latest awards were announced earlier this month; and, ongoing work with the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board to promote efficiencies in potato production, which will be particularly important for seed potatoes should we face an EU exit without a deal.

At this time the biggest threat that faces the Scottish farming and to our successful food and drink sector is Brexit and especially the prospect of a no deal scenario. The Scottish Government is calling on the UK Government to rule out the prospect of a no deal Brexit and extend the Article 50 process. However, should a no deal Brexit happen it is vital that the UK Government guarantees that farmers and crofters will be compensated in the event of a no deal. Failure to do so, would increase the risk of businesses going under, significantly reduce net profitability across livestock and crops sectors, and lead to widespread land abandonment across Scotland.