Deputy farming and food minister Rebecca Evans’s announcement this morning (Monday December 1) that the recommendations of the independent review into Farming Connect, commissioned by Welsh Government earlier this year, had been accepted in full was welcomed by the Farmers’ Union of Wales.
The review, undertaken by Gareth Williams, makes a number of clear and helpful recommendations on what the next Farming Connect programme should include and considers the proposed approach to delivering knowledge transfer, advice and innovation under the next Rural Development Programme (RDP).
The union’s land use and parliamentary committee chairman Gavin Williams said: “Having contributed to the review we are extremely pleased that many of our ideas are reflected in the report.
“Ensuring closer relationships between industry and Welsh Government to deliver the RDP programme is welcomed, as is a greater emphasis on encouraging farmers to undertake their own business planning and longer term decision making.
“We also welcome the greater flexibility within the programme which will allow it to adapt to changing industry needs and the retention of the current intervention rates for knowledge transfer, One-to-One advice and training will help drive the industry forward.
“We look forward to working with Welsh Government to ensure that the next Farming Connect programme fully reflects industry needs.”