SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, has expressed concern for the livelihood of farmers in North-East Wales.
Mr Rowlands, a keen support of the agricultural sector, was commenting after hearing about the potential implementation of the Climate Change Committee’s recommendation to reduce livestock numbers in Wales by nearly 20%.
He said: “Welsh farmers are unsung heroes and play a vital role in producing food for us all, working hard day in and day out to produce the nation’s food. They also help in other ways including enhancing the environment, boosting the Welsh economy and supporting tourism.
“These measures are certainly not going to help our farmers who many already operate on narrow margins. I am also really concerned that we would not be producing enough meat so we would have to import to make up the shortfall which is s false economy in my book.
“It is so important people realise the contribution farmers make, not only to our economy but also to the wider life in Wales and I will be urging the Welsh Government to nip this idea in the bud and reject these proposals.”
The Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) advice to the Welsh Government, suggests a 19% reduction in Welsh livestock numbers by 2033 to meet climate goals.
NFU Cymru has actively rejected proposals for significant livestock reductions in Wales, particularly those related to climate change targets and the Sustainable Farming Scheme.
The union argues that such reductions would have detrimental impacts on Welsh farming, rural communities, and the food industry, while also questioning the accuracy of the proposed metrics for measuring emissions reductions.
