The National Farmers Union has outlined its top priorities for the fresh produce sector with building stronger supply chain relationships and progressing the establishment of a supply-chain adjudicator at the top of the list.
Also on the agenda are better administration and management of the Producer Organisation scheme; securing a successor to the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) post 2013; and a conclusion to the Agricultural Wages Board debate.
NFU horticulture and potatoes board chairman Sarah Dawson said: “There is a lot of work to do, but I’m confident that the board - which is made up of specialists from all sectors of horticulture and potatoes - will be able to make significant progress on these important issues for our members during 2012. Following a disappointing financial performance for many growers last year, we want to create the right environment for our members to run profitable businesses - be that through reducing and tackling regulatory challenges, or encouraging more responsible supply-chain behaviour.”
As part of its action plan to deliver against its priorities the board has scheduled a visit to Brussels in the spring to meet with several European Commission officials responsible for crop protection, the fruit and vegetable aid regime, Producer Organisation audits and CAP reform. An exclusive preview of the NFU’s report into supply chain behaviour and relationships in the fresh produce sector will also be unveiled at the NFU’s Horticulture and Potatoes AGM breakout session on February 21.
“If we want to turn around our declining self-sufficiency in fruit and vegetable production and continue to provide consumers with the high quality, home-grown fruit and vegetables that they demand it’s vital that growers are given the right signals to encourage them to invest for the future,” said Dawson.
Meanwhile, chief horticultural adviser at the NFU Dr Chris Hartfield is encouraged by moves at the government’s peat task force to investigate a range of sustainable growing substrate as it revealed its programme of work for the next six months. Hartfield, who sits on the force’s steering group said: “The focus has moved away from solely on peat, towards a future based on a whole suite of responsibly-sourced growing media materials. For the task force to be successful over coming months and deliver recommendations that are meaningful for growers, it is essential that it continues with this new direction.”
The force is due to publish an interim report in March, followed by a final report in June with recommendations and a ‘roadmap’ for sustainable growing media use in the horticultural sector.
