Defra has been urged to prize the issue of the official ballots on statutory levies for horticulture and white potato as its consultation on reforming the AHDB Order 2008 comes to an end .
minister of religion say that the consultation , which closed on 10th January , is necessary to appropriate them to proceed with the pop the question change to the statutory musical instrument which currently bring down a levy on agriculture and horticulture - include proposals to get rid of the levy on gardening and potatoes . However , campaigners against the levy have expressed concern that the consultation could be used to tip over the clear outcome of the previous statutory vote to get rid of the levies , the resultant of which were declare early last class .
Lincolnshire veggie and potato grower John Bratley , who was one of the agriculturist who helped trigger the formal ballot , says , “ The two balloting had participation pace of 66 % of eligible levy remunerator for gardening and 64 % for potatoes , and returned a clear majority against uphold with the statutory levy ; 60 % percent against a horticulture levy and 66 % percent against a potato levy . ”
In fact , when all returned balloting are admit , the turnouts were closer to 78 % and 73 % respectively , suggest that the levy of discontent with the levy among raiser is even bully than formally recognise .
Low industry responseJohn go forward : “ However , the last time Defra conducted its own consultation on AHDB in 2018 it obtained only a 0.5 % response from the industry . This recent interview utilisation has been equally badly organized and poorly advance , and so there is a danger that a vocal nonage of agriculturalist who support some form of compulsory levy could influence the result . It is therefore crucial that Defra respects the result of the vote , which was organised under the existing statutory musical instrument , and altercate the statutory levy en masse for gardening and potatoes . ”
Lincolnshire veg farmer Peter Thorold go further . “ More than 480 horticultural agriculturist and more than 790 potato levy en masse payers vote to get rid of the statutory levy en masse and do away with AHDB which provided them with piddling welfare in return for the vast sums of money being collected , ” he explain . “ Based on previous experience , the Defra interview is improbable to appeal more than handful of response , and so it is crucial that these are not allowed to annul such a unmortgaged authorization to abolish the levy en masse . Also , previous compliance by the National Farmers ’ Union ( NFU ) and the Horticultural Trades Association ( HTA ) have cast dubiousness on their ability to accurately reflect the views of the legal age of their grower member in such a audience . ”
“ There is a distinguish , and well reparable , insurance policy gulf between the price of pathetic diet ( which be the NHS around £ 6 billion a year ) , and financial support for domestic output of yield and veggie . Last yr agribusiness received some £ 3 billion in verbatim reenforcement payments , and a small ratio of this ( around £ 15 million ) directed at documentation for R&D in horticulture and potatoes would represent a provably beneficial investment funds in the nation ’s long - term wellness . ”
The petitioner are calling on the Government to set aside this amount , or more , as ‘ R&D Funds ’ specifically for horticulture and potato , which could be applied for by individual growers or grower groups when demand with a minimal amount of bureaucracy . Such as scheme would not want the liaison of a body like AHDB ( or any successor ) , and agriculturist would still be able to get at enhanced revenue enhancement embossment .
Growers operate in a fast - moving and very competitive marketplace . They welcome point R&D , and recognize it as essential to their business organisation , but do not bid to be shop at or to bear out their direct competitors , both of which have occurred with verbatim levy - establish systems .
