Farmers Productivity 2021-12-09
2021-12-09
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the need for farmers to increase productivity in a sustainable manner.
What steps he is taking to help farmers increase productivity?
There is great potential for farmers to continue to increase productivity in an environmentally sustainable way. Last month we launched the farming investment fund, which will encourage that through, for instance, investment in new technology, new equipment and small infrastructure projects.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP acknowledges the previous visit to farmers in his constituency and seeks clarification on how the investment fund will foster agri-tech innovation.
I am grateful for my hon. Friend's answer, and also for the time that she took to visit farmers in my constituency last month. How will the investment fund support agri-tech innovation, which is surely a pathway to prosperity and profitability for Buckinghamshire farmers?
The fund is broad, and we are willing to look at all sorts of programmes within it. Some great solutions could include new livestock feeds that might reduce methane emissions, robotics in horticulture—I have seen some very good examples around the country—and bio-fertilisers, which we are particularly interested in developing at the moment.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer does not specify concrete actions or funding amounts for agri-tech innovation within the investment fund.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is critical of the government's handling of agricultural exports, labour shortages, and other issues affecting farmers.
Far from helping farmers to increase productivity, this Government are demonstrating their keen ability to get in the way of productivity. We have a crisis in pig exports to China and seed exports to Northern Ireland and the EU, there are export health certificates for Scottish goods going to the EU but none for the EU's goods coming to Scotland, there are the tariffs on jute sacks, and there is also the gross shortage and obscurity of the availability of labour. Would the Minister like to apologise to farmers in Scotland and say how she intends to improve this dynamic?
I am indeed concerned about farmers in Scotland, but that is because they are not benefiting from the revolution in agricultural support that we are undertaking in this country, and I am afraid that the Scottish Government are holding them back.
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Assessment & feedback
The issues raised regarding specific challenges faced by Scottish farmers were not addressed directly.
Blaming The Scottish Government
Response accuracy