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Back to Social/Economic/Political Homepage 20 December 2002Further Demise of Agriculture in Scotland thanks to Damaging Government PoliciesThe Hannah Research Institute in Ayr is to cease doing research on Dairy cows, for which it has an international reputation. The Scottish Executive has directed funding away from dairy cows, asking the Hannah Research Institute to now concentrate on research more directly relevant to human disease. Thus the Scottish Executive now expects the Hannah to conduct research at an internationally competitive level into such conditions as diabetes and breast cancer. In view of the competition within the UK and even more so internationally, and the fact that the Hannah is not located close to any hospital conducting significant clinical research into these areas, this seems to be nothing less than meddling bureaucratic political nonsense. Within the same week some of the staff of the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) have voted to go on strike, so dissatisfied are they with their pay (and no doubt with being pushed about by the same sort of political interference that has so damaged the Hannah Research Institute). It is understood that their funding from the Scottish Executive has been reduced by 25% with regard to agriculture-related work. Instead they are to direct their activities to matters that (in the eyes of the Scottish Executive) more directly affect human health. The Scottish Agricultural College has had to stop taking its own advice about encouraging farmers to diversify. Efforts by SAC to diversify have seriously damaged their own finances. An independent audit report by a distinguished firm of accountants has recommend SAC to focus on what they are good at, and not to waste resources diversifying into areas where they have insufficient expertise and much more efficient competition. A recipe for frustration and disaster. The National Farmers Union Scotland has also had to abandon one of its efforts to diversify. It is trying to sell off NFUS Assist, a poorly thought out and well intentioned service to assist farmers with their records. The way it was set up to operate would suggest that the assistance offered would likely be less than helpful. They only got 100 takers. In spite of much expensive high profile marketing, the venture has collapsed. At the root of the problem is the SEERAD creed expressed in “A Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture” (1). Here the move from production on farms to environmental issues is set out. The fundamental error of advocating reduced production supposedly to enhance the environment, while asking for quality and efficient business management plus diversification into other areas, is now showing itself as manifest folly. © www.land-care.org.uk
References1. A Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture, Scottish Executive, 2001. (View online | Download PDF) |