PLAID OUTLINES A THRIVING FUTURE FOR FARMING

Plaid Cymru’s farming mini-manifesto, launched ahead of the Westminster General Election, outlines how Plaid Cymru wants to work to make sure the Common Agriculture Policy works for Welsh farmers. It also focuses on reducing bureaucracy, ensuring that Rural Development Programme funding is used effectively, and that public procurement better supports Welsh farmers and Welsh jobs.

Llyr Gruffydd AM, Plaid Cymru's Shadow Minister for Sustainable Communities, Energy and Food; said:  

"Plaid Cymru is committed to reducing red tape in order to give the industry the flexibility it needs to respond effectively to these challenging times. We would start by scrapping the six-day standstill rule which has served its purpose.

"We have our sights set on improving services in rural communities. We are committed to delivering Superfast broadband to 100% of Wales to ensure everybody is connected and anyone can do business from home.

"We will also fight to make sure rural Wales is brought into the EU's Rural Fuel Rebate scheme which will deliver a 5p cut in the price of fuel to rural areas whose inhabitants are forced to spend a higher portion of their income on fuel than people in urban areas.

"Plaid Cymru understands our communities and their needs. We are fighting to return the strongest ever group of MPs to the Commons to make sure that those needs are served in Westminster."

TIME TO GIVE POWER TO OUR COMMUNITIES

Today saw the publication of Plaid Cymru’s Sustainable Communities Commission report on how to make Wales a country of more sustainable communities. We need to both empower people and to empower our communities, something that will lead to local democratic renewal, create a more sustainable infrastructure and also strengthen investment in our communities.

This is important because not only does the report focus on putting local communities across Wales at the heart of the sustainability agenda by giving them more power to make their own decisions, but it also advocates giving our communities the power to make their decisions actually happen. You can click here to read the full report. 

Plaid Cymru's Sustainable Communities Commission report was launched during a visit to the Crest Co-operative enterprise in Llandudno Junction by Hywel Williams MP for Arfon and Llyr Gruffydd AM who chaired the Commission.

The report includes proposals to reform and strengthen community councils so that they can decide what is best within their communities. It also recomends mapping publicly owned land so that it can be put to best use (such as affordable housing or community growing) and supporting sustainable infrastructure, including better internet connections, to ensure more connected communities for the future.

Good practice is highlighted in the report with successful examples that could be emulated across Wales included timebanking schemes in Cardiff, community groups that prevent loneliness and isolation amongst older people, community renewable energy generation schemes in west Wales and Powys as well as local procurement and regeneration schemes from Gwynedd. 

Speaking at the launch, shadow cabinet member, Llyr Guffydd AM said:

" Plaid Cymru wants to see Wales prosper with a strong economy and world-class public services. It wants a healthy natural environment supporting a society that is resilient to change. I believe the approach of starting with citizens and communities and building outwards is the best way of achieving this vision.

"Communities are the building blocks of our nation, bringing a rich diversity of experiences and places together.

"Our commission sought expert advice from many external groups and their input has played an important part in our findings.

"We will need to draw on all of our assets to find sustainable solutions to the challenges we face. Government simply can't do it on its own. We need to be creative and innovative. Engaging communities, building up their capacity and encouraging community-led responses can release much needed energy and creativity. We need to create a framework where communities can make a full contribution.

“Our recommendations include proposals to reform and empower community councils, mapping publicly owned land so that it can be put to best use, such as affordable housing or community growing, and supporting sustainable infrastructure, such as internet connections to create more connected communities.

“These ideas will inform our 2016 National Assembly manifesto, made relevant to all communities in all parts of Wales."

Hywel Williams MP for Arfon added:

"Crest Co-operative is just one example of countless enterprises throughout Wales which show what can be achieved when individuals come together to work in the best interests of their communities.

"Plaid Cymru wants to build a better Wales for the next generation, not resort to self-interest and short-termism.

"I hope that the findings of this Commission will spark wider discussions on what Wales can achieve when people rally around common goals that will benefit Welsh communities both economically and environmentally.

“We are all aware of the budget cuts and the need to maintain services. Local communities have to be part of that conversation, and that is why Plaid Cymru is putting local communities at the heart of Wales’ future."

CALL FOR ACTION ON AGRICULTURE

Agriculture in our country is facing unprecedented challenges, and our farmers are facing a perfect storm, a combination of financial problems, red tape, falling milk and beef gate prices which collectively could drive parts of the agricultural sector to crisis point. In 2013, farm incomes dropped by 44% in Wales. It has been estimated that a farmer receiving £10,000 in 2013 would see their payment drop by over 20% to £7,879.

A number of different factors pose significant challenges to our agricultural sector:

• A 10% cut to the EU’s overall CAP budget
• The Welsh Government’s decision to reduce the amount of money paid directly to farmers by 15% (by moving money from Pillar 1 to Pillar 2)
• Excessive bureaucracy such as the six day standstill rule on moving animals
• Welsh Government proposals to introduce a crude and inflexible valuation system for bovine TB compensation
• A 20% reduction in the farmgate price of milk
• Substantial drops in the price of lamb and beef
• The exchange rate has fallen by 7%.

Llyr Gruffydd AM/AC, The Party of Wales Shadow Minister for Sustainable Communities, Energy and Food, has put forward a series of practical steps that the Welsh Government can take to improve the situation. He said:

“Farmers are facing a catalogue of challenges that are creating a perfect storm for the agriculture sector in Wales. Some of these factors are beyond the government’s control, such as the particularly poor exchange rate, but many of them are of the Welsh Government’s own making, and they need to be rectified.

“The Welsh Government’s decision to cut the amount of money paid directly to farmers by 15% has created untold concern. Taking nearly a quarter of a billion pounds out of the pockets of farmers at such a financially challenging time is making a bad situation worse. This, on top of the 10% cut to the agriculture budget that the Labour and Tory parties supported at an EU level, will add to this.

“Given the unprecedented challenges facing the industry in Wales the Deputy Minister must now accelerate Government action to cut red tape in the sector. She must allow farmers to get on with the job of farming and give them more flexibility to ensure their businesses endure. This should include scrapping the six day standstill rule which locks up a farm for six days every time an animal is brought on the holding.

“We also need to better support Welsh dairy and meat. Changing procurement rules at an EU level means Wales will be able to do more to encourage people to source local meat and dairy, boosting the industry and keeping prices fair. The Deputy Minister’s decision not to introduce a scheme under the Rural Development Programme to support those farming the more difficult land known as Areas of Natural Constraint is also a blow to the industry – especially when they see other parts of the UK utilising this support. 

“The Welsh Government needs to act early. A harsh winter is predicted and a panicked response to severe weather could be avoided by making some key changes now.”