Views sought on reform of CAP (From Salisbury Journal)

Views sought on reform of CAP

10:58am Thursday 12th January 2012 in Rural Focus By Anne Connon

FARMING Minister Jim Paice has issued a discussion paper on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Following this paper, Mr Paice, pictured right, said: “We at Defra want to hear from people whose lives and professions will be affected by these reforms.

“I know that the outcome of the CAP negotiations will be very important to farmers, environmental groups, rural communities, non-governmental organisations and other interested parties in this country and I am determined to work closely with European colleagues to achieve a fair outcome for UK farmers and taxpayers.

“The proposals to reform the CAP fall short of meeting the key challenges of feeding a growing global population and protecting the environment.

“The government is in favour of ‘greening’ the CAP and I strongly believe our environmental stewardship schemes are the best way to get better environmental protection through the CAP. They will need further improvement, but they are way ahead of most countries.

“I have pledged to make sure English farmers who are thinking about entering or renewing agri-environment agreements could choose to opt out without penalty if they had to make changes to their agreements as a result of CAP greening.

“We now have many months of negotiations and I am determined to be an active participant in the EU negotiations so we can meet the global market challenges ahead.

“It is absolutely vital that the new CAP leads to an innovative and competitive agricultural sector, enabling farmers to manage their land more effectively and increase production, while at the same time maintaining and enhancing our natural environment which will open up new business opportunities.”

“Defra is particularly interested in hearing views about the current greening proposals. Your views - together with feedback received from the separate consultations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - will help inform the UK’s negotiating position.”

The deadline for submitting views is March 5 and the questionnaire can be found at defra.gov.uk/consult/ 2011/12/12/cap-reform-1112