Farming- protecting the environment, Rural Wales and our culture

PRESS RELEASE

On the eve of the Royal Welsh Show, Plaid Cymru President Dafydd Iwan has made a strong defence of the farming industry, saying that our network of family farms in Wales is a tremendous asset in protecting our natural environment, rural communities, and our language and culture.

Dafydd Iwan said: “ The mistake often made by politicians is to measure the value of agriculture like other industries in turnover, profit and number of jobs. But what makes farming different to other industries is that it supports a way of life, supports whole communities, is a way of keeping young people in rural areas, and at the same time is an excellent means of protecting our natural heritage and environment.”

“Of course everyone recognizes by now that farming has to change: more emphasis must be placed on environmental planning, on diversifying the skills of our youth, and on adding value to our product and on more effective marketing. But at the same time, politicians must realise that we cannot sustain rural communities nor be more self-sufficient in food production without a buoyant and healthy farming industry.”

“This is why I heartily welcome the move to make rural planning rules less restrictive, and to proactively encourage the building of affordable homes for people in their own locality in rural communities.”