provides measures which support less favoured acceptable crops...

It also provides the secretariat
areas (LFAs), through a new area-based scheme,
for a new government-industry forum on non-
agri-environment measures, and afforestation.
food uses of crops.
Around £685 million will be spent over the
lifetime of the programme. In addition, SEERAD
has introduced the Agricultural Business
Policy Commission report on farming and food
Development Scheme in the Highlands and
In January 2002 the Policy Commission on the
Islands. It will provide assistance to farmers and
future of farming and food published Farming
crofters for investments in agricultural holdings
and Food, its response to the Government’s
and diversification projects.
request to investigate how a sustainable,
competitive and diverse farming and food sector
The Rural Development Plan for Wales involves
could be created in England. The report makes
investment of around £450 million. The
over 100 recommendations, including:
programme will make funds available for schemes
such as the Tir Gofal (Land in Care) whole farm
■
radical reform of the CAP (see page 399), for
agri-environment scheme and the Processing and
example removing remaining price supports
Marketing Grant Scheme. It includes support for
and associated production controls;
hill farming and a range of forestry and farm
woodland initiatives.
■
targeting public funds towards environmental
and rural development instead of subsidising
The Rural Development Regulation Plan for
production;
Northern Ireland, which is running from 2000 to
2006, is worth £266 million. It includes the new
■
setting up a permanent Food Chain Centre to
LFA support scheme and an enhanced agri-
bring together people from each part of the
environment programme. DARD also manages a
food chain, in order, for example, to develop
Rural Development Programme targeted at the
supply chain analyses and identify how
broader rural community. It is expected to be
efficiency savings could be made; and
worth about £80 million between 2001 and 2007,
and combines several programmes, such as the
■
the setting up of a new national ‘champion’
Northern Ireland Programme for Building
body for local food to help the sector expand.
Sustainable Prosperity.
Rural Development Programmes
Agri-environment schemes
Although each is different, these programmes have
Agri-environment schemes form key parts of the
the general aims of conserving and improving the
RDPs. They generally make payments for the
environment, and creating productive and
management of land to maintain, enhance and
sustainable rural economies. Developing more
extend wildlife habitats; conserve historic or
diverse and competitive rural industries are also
geological features; encourage public access; and
central themes. Agri-environment schemes (see
restore traditional aspects of the countryside.
below) are key parts of the RDPs, and have seen
Aiming to make conservation part of management
398
Economic affairs
26 Agriculture, fishing and forestry
practice, they are funded by the EU and the
advice to farmers considering conversion to
Government.
organic farming. In Scotland SEERAD funds the
Scottish Agricultural College to operate a
The Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) scheme
telephone helpline. Standards of organic food
offers incentives to farmers to adopt agricultural
production in the UK are set by the UK Register
practices which will safeguard and enhance parts
of Organic Food Standards.
of the country of particularly high landscape,
wildlife or historic value. Farmers and land
The Farm Woodland Premium Scheme (partly
managers enter ten-year agreements to manage
funded by the EU) aims to encourage farmers to
land in an environmentally beneficial way in
convert productive agricultural land to woodlands
return for annual payments. Grants are also
by providing payments to help offset agricultural
available for capital works, such as hedge laying
income foregone. The aim is to enhance the
and the restoration of traditional farm buildings.
environment through the planting of trees, improve
There are now 22 ESAs in England, covering some
the landscape, provide new habitats and increase
10 per cent of agricultural land; six in Wales
biodiversity. Between April 1992 and December
(operating under Tir Gofal), ten in Scotland and
2001 a total of 12,223 applications, covering 84,712
five in Northern Ireland. In 2001 £71 million was
hectares, were approved for planting in the UK.
spent in the UK under ESAs.
Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
The Hill Farm Allowance (HFA) scheme provides
Total UK expenditure under the CAP and on
assistance to hill farmers, who face particular
national grants and subsidies in 2001/02 is
difficulties in their activities. Those farming in
forecast to increase by some £2.2 billion compared