Agriculture Sector Growth 2025-02-06
2025-02-06
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
Farmers in West Dorset are struggling with rising costs, regulatory burdens, market instability and low prices from supermarkets. This forces farmers to diversify away from food production.
Given the vital role that farming plays in both our rural economy and in food security, what specific measures will the Government introduce to stop the need for diversification and ensure that farming remains a financially viable and attractive industry for the next generation of West Dorset farmers?
The hon. Gentleman makes an important set of points, but I point him to the speech that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made at Oxford, because he made the very strong point that farming needs to get a better return for the hard work that farmers do. Alongside that, diversification is important to allow people to get through the difficult times, which inevitably come up in a cyclical business such as farming.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific measures to prevent diversification and ensure economic viability of farming were not addressed.
Diversification Is Important
Response accuracy