"The Liberal Democrats are calling for a 'Farm First' scheme to train graduates for careers in farming, aiming to prevent what they describe as a "lost generation" in the sector. The scheme would be similar to Teach First, a charity which trains graduates as teachers and places them in schools. The party estimates their proposal would cost 60m per year, funding two-year training placements for 1,000 trainees."
"A Labour spokesperson said the government was "committed to supporting the farming sector". "We're investing billions in the sector through supportive programmes and schemes and working closely with the Institute for Agriculture to promote careers in farming." "The Lib Dems had the opportunity to help farmers while in government but instead cut capital spending to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by a third and led the country into austerity.""
"Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat's environment spokesperson, said his party was calling for "a fundamental cultural shift in our attitude towards farming". "Our Farm First scheme would treat food security with the seriousness it deserves, finally giving young people the training and incentive they need to choose farming," he said. "By ignoring this impending crisis and rural brain drain, they are severing the lifeline of our domestic food supply.""
The Liberal Democrats propose a 'Farm First' programme modelled on Teach First to provide two-year training placements for 1,000 graduate trainees at an estimated cost of £60m per year. Proposed funding options include a windfall tax on big banks and an increase to the Digital Services Tax on large tech firms. The government is presented as committing billions to the sector and partnering with the Institute for Agriculture to promote careers, while Lib Dems face criticism for past DEFRA capital spending cuts. The proposal responds to demographic data showing only 5% of farmers are under 35 and 40% are over 65.
Read at www.bbc.com
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