Community Engagement with Farming

Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd – in the Senedd at 3:01 pm on 30 November 2022.

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Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 3:01, 30 November 2022

Thank you. I think you raise a really important point, and I absolutely see the sustainable farming scheme in the future being incorporated into this area. As I mentioned in my tabled answer to you, we've got many schemes that we support, and it's really good to hear about the project in your own constituency.

I've been really pleased to see how many farmers want to engage with schools, and I've been on many farm visits where there are schoolchildren present, learning about how food is produced, and just what the agricultural sector does, because, of course, particularly if you're from an urban area, perhaps you don't have that knowledge, and it's great to see the engagement from our farmers. When I was at the winter fair on Monday—and I think this is really important, going back to what I was saying about schoolchildren—I was really pleased to be able to support, both with funding and other resources, a booklet that can go out to children about farm safety, because I think, again, farms can be very dangerous places, and it's really important that our children, ahead of going on a farm, understand the dangers that are there.

We've also got the community food strategy, which is another way, I think, we can engage with the community, and I'm currently having discussions with Cefin Campbell, as the designated Member as part of the co-operation agreement, in relation to the community food strategy. Food is the common factor, but there are so many societal benefits that can come out of this type of work as well.