Farmers will be paid to be 'custodians of the countryside'

Now MAFF's Mess And the Government's Strategy Make Sense

ph/lw At the end of April Nick Brown, the Agriculture Minister, revealed the plans behind the creation of a Department for Rural Affairs. In an interview with The Telegraph he said that farmers in future will be paid to be 'custodians of the countryside' rather than producers of food under sweeping reforms that form the biggest shake-up of farming since the War. He says the Government's far-reaching review of agriculture will radically change the lives and incomes of farming communities. Instead of being paid for the food they produce, they will be paid to graze sheep on hillsides for example, build dry stone walls and plant hedges. Farmers will also be encouraged to switch to organic farming. Does this help to explain why there has been so little condemnation by animal welfare organisations, Greenpeace and environmental activists of Maff's slaughter, burial and burn policy? These normally vociferous people have remained strangely silent.

The idea of 'countryside stewardship' by the farmers has been presented in glowing terms: Farmers will at last be rewarded for protecting the environment for the good of everyone. But the reality is that many farmers, figures of 30-40 % have been quoted, intend to leave the industry after the foot and mouth epidemic. It is above all the smallholders who are being forced to quit. These are usually the family-run farms that are closely knit with local communities, they are attached to the land, and more likely to be rearing special breeds and not employing the intensive farming practices of the agri-businesses.

Brown's cynical remark that since 'for many farmers, foot and mouth disease has been the last blow', it is a natural point to think about an alternative future' was matched by his claim that Maff was considering introducing an early retirement package for farmers hit by the foot and mouth crisis. This is certainly not what smallholders want, and this is nowhere better illustrated than by the present high suicide rate among farmers. Farming is and always has been a way of life for these people.

And how does Brown see the future? The big intensive farmers, including the 'barley barons' who have received the main benefit from EU subsidies, will be the 'net losers', Mr Brown believes. 'The relative advantages do shift from the larger farmer to the smaller farmer. But of course, as the market place frees up, it is the larger farmer who has the best chance of surviving.' In other words it is the small farmer who will go out of business, and the rest of Brown's statement is pure waffle. Only the big farming businesses will survive in a world market, there will be organic food for those who can afford it, and those smallholders who can bear it will be left to tend the rural theme parks and the scenic landscapes of yesteryear for the urban rich.

The 'freed-up' marketplace, i.e. the opening of borders world-wide for all agricultural products, will lead to the market being flooded with products from all corners of the world, which, since the effective transport costs are not included, can be offered at throw-away prices. Consumers will be oblivious to methods of production and conservation, the animal feeds used, and rearing and working conditions (child and slave labour). They will become increasingly ignorant of the quality and hygiene of foodstuffs in their shopping bags.

Is it not time for consumers and producers to reflect on more democratic and human ways of organising their dealings? High-quality fresh food, regionally produced in a sustainable way at reasonable prices is possible! As long as smallholders still exist in Britain, there is time for consumers and farmers to develop ways of marketing and distributing regional farming products themselves. One traditional method of doing this is by means of cooperatives. The cooperative as a modern business structure originated in 19th century Britain. In response to the depressed economic conditions brought forth by industrialisation, some people began to form cooperative businesses to meet their needs.