Pandemic funding support for farmers and crofters delivered ahead of schedule after 'monumental' effort
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FUNDING to farmers and crofters to help keep Scotland’s food production moving during the pandemic has been delivered ahead of schedule, a Ross-based MSP has said.
To date, more than 95 per cent of Basic Payment Support, Greening and Young Farmer payments have been made – four months ahead of the regulatory requirement.
The payments were introduced in December last year and have so far paid out almost £400 million.
Highlands and Islands MSP Maree Todd MSP said: “It has been a monumental effort to ensure our farmers and crofters across the Highlands and islands receive their payments from the Scottish Government. Now, more than ever, we must keep money flowing into our rural communities.The past year has been extremely difficult for the food production industry, they have had to suffer the double-whammy of Covid and a damaging hard Tory Brexit.
“But because the Scottish Government placed the needs of our rural communities at the top of its priority list - in stark contrast to the chaos overseen by the UK Tory Government – our farmers and crofters have been protected from at least some of Brexit’s disastrous consequences.
“Our farming communities deserve the nation’s thanks, throughout this pandemic they have maintained essential supply chains and kept food on our plates.
“I would now urge farmers and crofters to ensure they submit their Single Application Form 2021 applications as soon as they can to make sure they receive their payments for this year.”
