Crofters urged to speak up over subsidy changes 10/2/14
The Scottish Crofting Federation (SCF) is warning all crofters to respond to the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) consultations or risk being “cheated of what is rightfully theirs.”
Norman Leask of the SCF’s said: “The objective in the European Commission has been to provide more support to small producers right from the outset of these protracted negotiations but gradually the large farmers’ representatives have eroded this intention.
“In Scotland it is the same. We were led to believe that crofters, small producers existing in the harshest and most fragile areas of the Highlands and Islands, were to get real and equitable support at last.
“But in the short time between the first consultations and this second stage, the large farmers’ representatives have stepped up lobbying pressure in the desperate attempt to keep the money, and the Scottish Government seems to be bowing to this. If crofters don’t speak up and respond to the consultations, they will get shafted.”
“For example”, Mr Leask went on, “in the Pillar One consultation, on direct payments, it is suggested that the Rough Grazing classification, which most croft land is, should be supported to the tune of about twenty five euros per hectare, whilst Permanent Grassland and Arable, where most intensive large farms are, should get two hundred and twenty euros per hectare.
“Crofters have not been asking for much, just enough to survive. We estimate this to be thirty to thirty five euros per hectare. But the large farm lobby won't tolerate even this. It is blatant greed.”
Mr Leask concluded: “It is essential all crofters read and respond to the consultations and that SCF members contribute to the SCF response.”