A Fresh Start for DEFRA?
- January 2005
This Opinion was featured in the January 2005 issue of the the Anglia Farmer
David Walker wonders whether deeper reasons lie behind the government's attempt to attract fresh entrants into farming.
The government’s 'Fresh Start,' an initiative "to attract new people into farming" and "help others create opportunities for the next generation" - a euphemism for getting farmers to retire, is probably needed. But whether it will achieve much is another matter. More, importantly, however, it could just be a much needed "fresh start" for DEFRA.
The average age of farmers continues to rise - two years in the last ten. And now the popular political statistic is that 25 percent of farm decision makers are over 65, something which is almost certainly more of a concern to those in the 25 precent statistic than the politicians.
Of course, traditionally farmers never, in their own minds, retired. As they grew older, they, like everybody else in society, had the well-deserved reward of working at a more leisurely pace. Eventually they tended to end up as the font of all knowledge beyond the recall of others and possibly even themselves.
Increasingly this is being denied them for economic reasons, and because their kin and those of others are not taking up the farming mantle. It is this challenge that the "Fresh Start" is attempting to address, although Whitehall may see it rather differently. The 25 percent with a life time of independent decision making are most likely to be viewed by government as not having malleable enough minds to be suitable candidates for a future role as countryside wardens.
As is appropriate for the season, DEFRA seemed to have been busy packaging the programme and ensuring nobody is forgotten. All farmers in England were to receive at least one of the brochures. But those who delayed "opening it" until Christmas were likely to have been disappointed, as there seemed little that is very fresh on offer.
The possible exceptions were provisions for mentoring and matching - older farmers providing advice and business opportunities to new entrants. These roles have traditionally been part of the inter-generation family transfer process. That it is now considered necessary to promote them beyond this context is implicit admission by the government that farming is no longer financially sustainable and that fresh equity has to be found.
But, that the government choose to use its share of politically valuable headlines at the Smithfield Show to promote this programme suggests it is serious. It should be given credit for this.
Further that the government again choose to use Sir Don Curry, its chief independent farming advisor, to announce the programme, rather than a minister of the crown, indicates increased sensitivity. In the past ministers of agriculture would have found almost any excuse to get themselves into the headlines on such occasions. Again DEFRA deserves credit for appreciating that this would have been counterproductive.
Also, that the government choose to emphasize the role to be played by a long list of industry collaborators indicates some humility. The DEFRA logo, although still top of the page, shares the lime light with no fewer than nine others.
It is unfortunate that DEFRA has over the years alienated itself from the industry to the degree that it has. But its recognition of this reality, as perhaps evident at the Fresh Start launch, would be very positive development. A Fresh Start for DEFRA?
Janaury 2005
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