Horticulture and Potatoes Board Chairman, Ali Capper, contemplates the industry's needs now that Article 50 has been triggered.
In that time, the NFU will have much to do to get the best deal for its members. This is an opportunity to create the conditions for a productive, resilient and sustainable industry that meets the expectations of the UK public – producing safe and affordable food; growing high-quality and healthy plants; looking after our environment and valued countryside; and contributing to productive and robust economic growth.
In order to do this, the horticulture and potatoes sector needs four key things:
- Access to the required number of workers (both seasonal and permanent)
- Favourable crop protection laws that don’t put the industry at an international disadvantage
- Robust plant health laws that prevent the entry of damaging exotic diseases whilst still facilitating trade
- A trade deal that encourages domestic productivity and profitability to benefit UK growers and, for our sector, the continuation and improvement of the PO regime.
The Board has been working hard on taking these issues forwards and has been having detailed and productive discussions with Government about our priority areas.
With regards to labour, the Minister of Immigration, Robert Goodwill MP, provided evidence at the EFRA committee meeting last week, saying that he was committed to ensuring the immediate and ongoing labour needs of the sector are kept under close review. However, disappointingly, he provided no further clarity or certainty on where food and farming will recruit seasonal and permanent labour from after March 2019 and beyond.
Farmers and growers are planning their businesses now in preparation for future seasons. The fact remains that they have serious concerns on how and where they will source a competent and reliable workforce post-Brexit. This is borne out again and again at member meetings and in the NFU member labour survey (End of Season).
With Article 50 now triggered, the next two years will pass quickly. Our industry depends on having the number of workers needed to do the job. Government needs to be ready for the fallout if they don’t get a system in place to ensure that this industry has the labour it needs.
You can watch the committee here: http://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/5f2beafa-a142-4b81-af89-7b12fb391019