A11 Views of interested organisations.pdf - Agra CEAS Consulting

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MID-TERM EVALUATION OF THE RDP WALES A11.3.4. Financial balance The NFU Cymru believe that allocation of resources should be demand-led, but should relate to the direct and indirect benefits that flow as a result. A greater degree of knowledge of the wider impact of the RDP is therefore required in order to consider the issue of resource allocation. This is a view shared by the CCW, although they add that the current allocation of resources is very much a reflection of the measures existing prior to the RDP. The Farming Union of Wales recognises that the financial weight of the RDP falls on the Tir Mynydd scheme and believes, as does RSPB Cymru, that this is a vital socio-economic payment. In this organisation’s view these payments retain farmers in the uplands and as a result ensure that the more isolated communities remain viable. Whilst they believe that the WAG should attempt to negotiate a greater share of funding for the RDP, the FUW is content with the allocation of resources within the Plan. Given the relative absence of comments on this point it is understood that the majority of organisations are content with the current allocation of funds within the RDP, at least based on current knowledge concerning relative impact. A11.3.5. Gaps in the RDP A number of organisations identified what they perceived as gaps in the coverage provided by the RDP. These are summarised below: • The Farming Union of Wales believes that the RDP should incorporate measures to encourage young farmers to remain in (and enter) the industry. An early retirement scheme, coupled with young farmer installation aids would help to address the perceived imbalance in the age structure within the industry. The organisation adds that it is known that younger farmers are more likely to take advantage of RDP schemes and to embrace diversification and therefore encouraging these farmers would be beneficial to the overall success of the RDP. • The NFU Cymru believes that a gap in coverage exists in that all farmers are subject to modulation, but not all are able to recover these funds through RDP schemes. The proposed Entry Level agri-environment scheme may address this concern. • The CCW and the Environment Agency both recognise the need to take greater account of diffuse pollution and to assist the effective implementation of the Water Framework Directive. To this end both organisations support a ‘broad and shallow’ Entry Level agri-environment scheme 9 , as does RSPB Cymru. • RSPB Cymru believes that some geographical targeting of Tir Gofal should be introduced in order to achieve further gains in respect of species recovery, large scale habitat restoration, management of common land and flood management. 9 The CCW adds that this should not compromise the OFS or Tir Gofal. RSPB Cymru believes that such a scheme would underpin Tir Gofal and would provide impetus towards the WAG’s vision of an innovative agri-food industry that would also create a Welsh countryside rich in biodiversity and wildlife. 12
MID-TERM EVALUATION OF THE RDP WALES • The CCW believes that the application of Article 16 could assist with the restoration of vegetation on areas of upland previously modified by heavy grazing (although not over-grazed according to the implied definition under the existing beef and sheep subsidy rules). The first indent of Article 22 of the Rural Development Regulation could be used to support traditional breeds and crop varieties. It is recognised that the first modification of the RDP in 2001 introduced support for Welsh Black cattle, but the CCW believes that there is scope to broaden this approach still further. Additional use could also be made of Article 33 where currently only 5 of 13 sub-measures are used. The FMD outbreak demonstrated how reliant the recreation and tourist industry is upon agriculture and the RDP does not currently address the wider economy as well as it might. • The National Trust Wales feels that the biggest gap in coverage is the fact that medium-sized, family farms are less able to attract support then either the smallest or the largest holdings. This is an issue that also concerned the CCW and hence the change in application scoring for Tir Gofal applications. It is unclear from key organisation comments to what extent this remains a problem with regard to Tir Gofal, or to what extent this is a problem for participation in other RDP schemes. • RSPB Cymru suggests that all RDP schemes should deliver baseline environmental standards. The organisation also believes that the environmental enhancement element of Tir Mynydd should be developed further to provide greater incentives to promote mixed farming practices. A11.3.6. Interaction with other schemes/programmes The Environment Agency and the CCW made clear the need to have a greater degree of integration between the RDP and other policy initiatives, and this seems to be especially the case with regard to the protection of water quality. RSPB Cymru, whilst recognising the progress to date in delivery of the aspirations of the Farming for the Future document through the RDP, called for unspecified improvements to increase effectiveness in meeting these aspirations. The CCW and NFU Cymru add that the current funding arrangements whereby the EAGGF Guarantee and Guidance funds are both used to fund rural development is an administrative problem. The EU Commission appear to share this view and it is likely that the funding of rural development will be streamlined in the future. The Farming Connect scheme (whilst not itself RDP funded) was cited by the National Trust Wales and the CCW as being problematic, although for operational rather than philosophical reasons. It should be added that comments provided to us direct from farmers are less certain of the benefit of this approach, even assuming that it worked more effectively. 13
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