Highlands and Islands Regional MSP Rhoda Grant has spoken in support of crofting during a rural development debate in the Scottish Parliament.
She condemned the fact that large lowland farms, which are closer to markets receive a disproportionate amount of funding, while crofters and small farmers on the periphery get little additional assistance.
Mrs Grant said, “Crofting has an important role in the Highlands and Islands.”
Attacking the unfairness of subsidy provision she said “It has always seemed obscene to me that large farms with good land and access to markets receive the same support as those farmers and crofters working in difficult conditions, remote from markets.
“The Less Favoured Areas Scheme in the past even disproportionately benefited the larger producers, and while this has been rectified to an extent it still has a long way to go.”
She expressed her disappointment that the new Scottish Executive has made no indication that it wishes to carry on this process of change, indeed the new Ministers barely referred to Crofting in their speeches.
“Mrs Grant added, “I was disappointed that the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment in his opening remarks made scant mention of crofting or show any sign of addressing the imbalance of support for crofting and farming.
“While we must encourage diversification in farming but in doing so we must recognise the contribution made by crofting and farming to remote and rural communities and our wider environment.
“Finally, we need to ensure the support we give brings benefits to the wider community and that this support ensures the survival of remote rural communities.” 31 May 2007
