Plaid call on Labour to work with farmers to tackle climate change

Plaid Cymru have called on Labour to work with the agriculture sector as key partners to tackle climate change, not against them.

Farmers across Wales are rightly concerned about the future of the sector, Plaid Cymru has said.

The industry has faced the double whammy of both Conservatives and Labour Governments failing to work in the sector’s best interest.

Whether it’s Brexit, post-EU funding or a lack of, a failure to get to grips with the impact of TB, the Habitat scheme or the potentially mandated 10% tree cover on farms – Plaid Cymru recognise the cumulative effect these decisions will have on the sector.

We all must work towards together to tackle climate change, but Labour must accept the invaluable contribution farmers across Wales can make by working with them.

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS will urge the First Minister to secure a just transition for the agriculture sector to protect its future.

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said:

“Farmers across Wales have had enough. They feel let down by Governments either end of the M4.

“From Tory-made trade deals which undermine our agriculture sector and their failure to match EU-funding – to Labour’s weakness in dealing with the impact on TB on family farms, their delivery of a Habitat Wales Scheme which risks undoing so many years of agri-environment work, and an unworkable plan to cover 10% of their land with trees, with the loss of productive farmland.

“Just as we ask for a just transition for other industries when it comes to tackling climate change AND saving jobs, we must also secure such a just transition for the agriculture sector.

“Plaid Cymru will always stand up for all of Wales, including our agriculture sector. Labour must do the same and work with the sector to secure its future – as key partners for tackling climate change and delivering food security.”

Plaid Cymru spokesperson for Rural Affairs, Llyr Gruffydd MS:

“I am not surprised that farmers are angry given the enormous pressures faced by the industry at the moment.

“Be it the effects of Brexit, the proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme, NVZs or bovine TB – these all are having an effect on the agriculture sector. But when they all come at the same time, the cumulative effect is so much worse.

“Plaid Cymru stands shoulder to shoulder with our rural communities and we will continue to demand from both Welsh and Westminster Governments a change in direction which secures a future for our family farms in Wales.”