Farmers across the East call on new PM to add more detail to food security plan
They also want the Govt. to put the sector on equal footing with other parts of the economy
Last updated 8th Sep 2022
Farmers across the East are calling on the new Prime Minister to add more detail and substance to the Government food security plan.
They also want the Govt. to put the sector on equal footing with other parts of the economy.
The plea comes as rising inflation means many are being hit with rising fuel, energy and fertiliser prices- which threatens to eat away their profits and businesses.
"People are beginning to look at their balance sheets for next year and starting to get a little bit worried"
Charles Hesketh is from NFU East Anglia.
"We want the new Government to realise the importance of domestic food supply and security. We had the Government's food security plan come out around two months ago, which made some very encouraging remarks and claims around trying to ensure and increase our levels of self-sufficiency in our domestic food production. So what we need to see now is a clear strategy and some policy to back that up".
He told us that farmers are trying to weather the storm as best they can, but are taking a real hit:
"Farms are now looking to start planning their crops for next year and are looking at purchasing their input costs and looking ahead to winter and autumn drilling. It means that at the moment people are beginning to look at their balance sheets for next year and starting to get a little bit worried. Fertiliser and fuel are two big costs, but energy is a big concern as well".
"If they want to keep growing and selling veg, the are going to have to pass those costs on, because they have to remain profitable business. They have employees who they have a duty of care towards to try and keep them in their jobs as well. So a large element is going to have to be about passing on those costs".
"It makes conversations with our customers extremely difficult"
Mr Hesketh fears that things are likely to get worse before they get better:
"Many of the horticulture and veg businesses have to run refrigerated stores through the winter. They are extremely energy hungry and they are worried about how much it is going to cost, just to run them. They are also worried with how much those costs are going to spiral in the future, it makes budgeting extremely difficult and it makes conversations with our customers extremely difficult as well".