The outgoing first minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, has defended his plans to offer cash to farmers in return for planting trees on their land. Speaking in response to protests that occurred over the weekend due to proposed changes in agricultural subsidies, Drakeford said farmers cannot take sole responsibility for deciding how to allocate millions of pounds in subsidies. The Welsh Labour leader argues that the scheme will see farmers paid to address the climate crisis. While acknowledging that these are tough times for rural Wales, he added that “change is unavoidable.”
The Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) – the Welsh government’s proposal to replace farming subsidies after Brexit – has faced demonstrations and protests. Under the SFS, farmers would have to commit to planting 10% of their land with trees and designating an additional 10% as wildlife habitat. Many protesters say this is not practical while running a business and fear that they could be overwhelmed with paperwork. Meanwhile, environmentalists are pressuring Welsh officials to ensure the proposals are ambitious.
Drakeford appealed to farmers who have yet to join the ongoing consultation on the SFS to do so. He believes that their voices could shape the final scheme. The Welsh Conservatives, however, have reacted negatively to his proposals. The party accused Drakeford of showing “naked contempt for our farmers.”
At a press conference on Monday, Drakeford acknowledged the difficulty for people in rural Wales who have watched their traditional way of life come under attack from the forces of change. He challenged the notion that residents face a choice between “jobs today and a burning platform that will come unless we are prepared to take action.” Additionally, Drakeford rejected the idea that millions in public money should simply be distributed to farmers without any expectation of a “return on that investment.” Although sustainable food production is a component, the top priority is addressing the climate crisis
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