In the Senedd this week, James Evans repeated calls from NFU Cymru Brecon & Radnor to extend Glastir funding, which is due to finish at the end of this year.
Welsh Government currently has just over 5,500 Glastir-based area contracts, and NFU Cymru have warned of a potential “’cliff edge’ for Glastir Scheme participants.”
Evans said, “I recently met with NFU Cymru in my constituency and the deputy chairman of NFU Cymru in Brecon and Radnorshire, Rob Blaenbwch, who wanted me to put a question to you directly about Glastir funding.”
He continued “What my local NFU would like to see is those contracts being rolled forward right the way up to the start of the Sustainable Farming Scheme, to give those farmers some assurance of long-term stability and funding. Is that something that the Government is looking to do to make sure that our farmers have some stability in very uncertain times?”
Rural Affairs Minister, Lesley Griffiths MS, responded by blaming Brexit and said “because of the uncertainty in our budgets… I'm not able to do what you would like me to do.”
James said:
“Farmers in our area desperately need stability which allows them to make long-term plans.”
“I was disappointed the Minister couldn’t guarantee that, and there is a big risk of a huge funding shortfall when Glastir ends.
“It’s clear that we need an extension to Glastir to make sure there isn’t a funding gap before the Sustainable Farming Scheme comes in.”
