CCW and agricultural policy

CCW plays an active role in advising government and officials on the best way to develop and deliver agricultural policy.

Some additional examples of the policies that CCW advises on include:

Less Favoured Area policy review

Less Favoured Areas (LFAs) of Wales, around 80% of our agricultural land, are difficult to farm due to either climate, landscape features or where they are situated. This is a significant resource in terms of landscape, biodiversity, cultural qualities and capacity for public enjoyment.

CCW believes that the forthcoming LFA policy review should emphasise the integrated and sustainable management of existing rural assets in order to ensure the future delivery of environmental goods and services. We need to protect basic resources such as soil and water; we need to be able to deal with the effects of climate change; and we need to achieve a reversal of biodiversity decline.

The Rural Development Plan for Wales (RDP)

Rural development policy objectives for 2007-13 include increasing the competitiveness of the agricultural sector, improved land management, enhancing the quality of life in rural areas and promoting a community driven approach.

CCW believes it is crucial to adopt an integrated approach with regards implementing these objectives within the overall aims of RDP.

We also need to maintain Tir Gofal. An annual delivery target of 500 agreements and 50,000ha will help to ensure that the scheme maintains credibility both within Wales and across the EU.

The Wales Environment Strategy Action Plan has set demanding targets for the condition of SSSIs and SACs. In order to achieve this targets, we need to complement broad based environmental outcomes achievable under Tir Cynnal with more precise action under Tir Gofal. CCW strongly recommends that if uptake of Tir Cynnal falls below the expected level then any surplus funds should be used to deliver additional agreements under Tir Gofal, as well as to develop the proposed top tier co-operative land management scheme.

 

Single Payment Scheme (SPS)

CCW previously called for the introduction of SPS at the earliest possible opportunity, provided this was accompanied by a reorientation of the Farming Connect service.

CCW also noted that a sudden shift to area payments would have major implications for the rural economy of Wales in the short term.

It was suggested that further work was needed to determine whether it was possible to design an area-based system that would minimise impacts on the rural economy, possibly through being introduced on a transitional basis.