Committee Addresses Rural And Farming Issues

The Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development met with local farming group, ‘Farmers for Action’ to discuss a number of concerns regarding rural and farming issues.

Representatives from Farmers for Action raised concerns on the amount of farmers’ profits are taken by processors, wholesalers and retailers. The group also outlined their views on CAP reform, planning issues, Bovine TB and driving licensing issues for young drivers on farms. The Committee assured the group that it would consider carefully what Farmers for Action had to say.

Speaking about the meeting, Committee Chairperson, Paul Frew MLA said “The agricultural and rural communities of Northern Ireland are the fabric of this society. I want to assure members of these communities that, wherever possible, this Committee will do all it can to promote and protect the interests of farmers and rural dwellers”.

During the meeting the Committee also expressed concern about the increasing incidences of farm-related crime and agreed to write to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to ask her to raise the matter with the Minister of Justice.