A6 LFA annex.pdf - Agra CEAS Consulting

MID-TERM EVALUATION OF THE RDP WALESquality of life, the existence of rural services and the development of new businesses and incomesources.There is also arguably a link with the previous question and the continuity of farming within the LFA.Around a fifth (19%) of respondents thought that there would be some change in managementstructure during the next three years. In one out of five cases this was expected to involve taking onmore land (buying or renting), the same proportion as giving up farming altogether. All in all there islittle evidence from the survey that farm household structure is likely to change radically in the shortterm,though there is less certainty about the sustainability of the wider rural social structure.Respondents to the survey were in general quite clear that the Tir Mynydd scheme had contributedin a number of ways which had maintained the rural community (Table A6.11). There was littlevariation amongst farmers in this general view, even when the importance of Tir Mynydd to the totalhousehold income was considered. Even those who received relatively little from the schemeappeared to feel that it made an important contribution in this regard.Table A6.11: Tir Mynydd and the rural communitySDA(n = 121)LFA statusProportion of respondents citing this responseDA(n = 79)8-39(n = 61)Economic Size Unit40-100(n = 82)Over 100(n = 57)Total(n = 200)Maintaining the rural population 63% 49% 54% 56% 63% 58%Maintaining or building a stronger 60% 51% 51% 62% 53% 56%rural communityMaintaining the Welsh language and 45% 35% 47% 39% 42% 41%cultural heritage of the areaAttracting tourism to the area 28% 29% 23% 27% 37% 29%Attracting new business investment 27% 28% 23% 30% 28% 28%Attracting new people into the area 16% 13% 11% 12% 21% 15%No contribution 21% 27% 28% 22% 21% 24%Of the 185 farms which were considered to be ‘traditional Welsh family farms’, a clear majoritybelieved that Tir Mynydd had contributed significantly to its maintenance (Table A6.12). As might beexpected the support for Tir Mynydd was stronger in the SDA area and there is a slight suggestionthat it was stronger amongst smaller farms.Table A6.12: Tir Mynydd and the traditional Welsh family farmSDA(n = 113)LFA statusProportion of respondents citing this responseDA(n = 72)8-39(n = 59)Economic Size Unit40-100(n = 79)>100(n = 47)Total(n = 185)Has certainly helped maintain 73% 58% 66% 66% 70% 67%Has possibly helped maintain 18% 31% 27% 24% 15% 23%17