ORGANIC farming in Wales has stepped back from the abyss after the Welsh Government agreed to re-introduce maintenance payments for producers.
The sector had lobbied hard for on-going support under the new Glastir land management scheme amid fears the organic sector would be decimated by falling incomes.
Such support has spurred the growth of organic farming in Wales but maintenance payments were absent from Glastir when it was first conceived.
Now Cardiff has reversed its stance following recommendations made by the Glastir Independent Review Group (GIRG).
Farming deputy minister Alun Davies said that, from 2014, organic farmers can access organic maintenance funds within Glastir, subject to EC approval.
In the meantime, existing organic producers will be offered extensions to their current agreements.
These payments will run in parallel with Glastir until the end of 2013.
As well as advocating organic maintenance payments within Glastir, the GIRG also recommended the axing of the 50% points discount previously available to organic farmers wanting to enter the Glastir All Wales Element.
It means organic Glastir applicants will now need to amend their applications.
Mr Davies said: “These decisions are subject to EC approval and are intended to (help) organic producers make longer term planning decisions about the future of their businesses.”
In addition to announcing new support for existing organic farmers, Mr Davies also unveiled plans to help conventional producers who want to make the switch: windows to apply for the Organic Farming Conversion Scheme will open later this year and again in 2012.
Sue Fowler, director of Organic Centre Wales said the measures would give the Welsh organic sector a huge lift.
She said: “We would now encourage farmers to utilise the Glastir application surgeries. Officials will help organic farmers reach the required points threshold for the All Wales Element.”
A survey carried out late last year by Graig Producers, a marketing group representing 700 organic farmers, revealed deep pessimism within the industry.
Many felt the rug had been pulled from their feet and more than a third indicated they were likely to quit.
Graig’s managing director Bob Kennard, chairman of the Welsh Organic Group, said this would have been “disastrous”.
He praised Mr Davis for listening to farming concerns.
“This move will give our members confidence to continue to invest in organic farming,” he said.
“The new maintenance fund highlights that the Government is taking the organic industry seriously.”
However shadow rural affairs minister Antoinette Sandbach said the move to bolster organic farming would simply add to Glastir’s growing bureaucracy.
The Tory AM for North Wales said the decision smacked of “policy-making on the hoof”.
She said: “Officials made a hash of the first round of applications to Glastir’s All-Wales Element, and these changes to organic support only add to the complexity.
“Glastir was rolled out before it was fit for purpose, and Welsh farmers have been burdened with its shortcomings ever since.”
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