6. Statement by the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs: Brexit and Our Land

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:10 pm on 4 June 2019.

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Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 6:10, 4 June 2019

Thank you. Jenny Rathbone raises a very important point. I was reading the other day that UK home production in vegetables contributed 73 per cent of total supply in 1995, and it's now dropped to around 54 per cent. So, you can see there is a real opportunity there, and certainly we want every type of farmer to be able to access the scheme. So, if we've got a horticultural farmer who wishes to join, that's excellent. Also, if we've got a livestock farmer who wants support to get into horticulture, that's also to be welcomed. We would support both of those. 

Obviously, the decline I mentioned in the UK production has increased our reliance on imports. You will have heard me and the First Minister say that if we have a 'no deal', one of the things that will be affected is fresh produce, we think, coming in from Europe. So, I think there is a real opportunity there, and, again, I think procurement is an area where we can really ensure that our public services are using Welsh products. The Welsh horticultural sector only represents about 0.1 per cent of the utilised agricultural area, so there is huge capacity for an increase there. We've certainly helped support the sector.

You mentioned the apprenticeships, and the number has dropped. I'll certainly have a discussion with Kirsty Williams in relation to that. But, also, one of the things we have been doing is we've been improving our agricultural land classification mapping capability, so people will know where the best area is for certain produce and crops. So, I'm hoping that will also help perhaps a livestock farmer if he does want to enhance his produce in that way for horticulture.

We've also got Farming Connect, which you're aware of, and that also promotes viable diversification activities to existing growers. So, it's certainly something that I would welcome growth in.