A new report produced by SRUC has highlighted the unique role agriculture plays in island life and calls on Government to use this new evidence in policy decisions.
The report has been welcomed by Rural Affairs Secretary in the Scottish Government Mairi Gougeon. She said:
“I welcome this important report. Evidence based policy making is crucial to addressing the unique challenges and opportunities faced by our island communities.
“This report offers valuable insights that will help us to make informed decisions around how we continue to support the sustainable development of our islands.”
Rural and Agricultural Development: Maximising the potential in the islands of Orkney, Shetland and Outer Hebrides was commissioned by the Orkney, Shetland and Outer Hebrides Local Action Groups in collaboration with Orkney Islands Council, Shetland Islands Council, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. It was funded by the Scottish Government’s Community Led Local Development Collaboration Fund, as part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme.
The loss of additional funding which came Orkney’s way since the UK left the world’s largest free trade market, the EU, has had a significant impact on the agricultural sector in the islands and across most of Scotland.
The report identified that islands agriculture faces some unique challenges. It finds that,
” The agricultural sector across all three island groups is constrained by several critical factors, including: the unreliability and higher costs of haulage of inputs to and selling outputs from islands; uncertainty over future provision of ferry services; an ageing and shrinking workforce: and inflation impacts that have eroded the Government’s financial support for farmers and crofters.”
It offers practical solutions –
“The report findings indicate that a thorough Islands Community Impact Assessment (ICIA) is likely to be needed in relation to the combined effects of different strands of future agricultural policy interventions, and the delivery of the ‘Rural Support Plan’. Future ICIAs should be place-based and should take into account differences within island groups, acknowledging the additional costs of e.g. transporting goods to outer isles.”
Islands Community Impact Assessments are recommended for any changes to policy by public bodies in the Islands Act, however, many pay scant regard to the guidance as in the case of VisitScotland’s decision to close all its iCentres.
The report by SRUC acknowledges that the three Island groupings face similar but also different challenges due to the different land quality, culture, and climate conditions. However,
“Whilst there are inter-island differences, agriculture accounts for a higher share of private businesses, turnover and employment in island economies than other regions of Scotland. “
Commenting on the report which was only available after the Scottish Parliament passed the Agriculture and Rural Communities Bill at the end of June, Rhoda Grant, Highland and Islands Labour MSP said:
“This is an important piece of work and I welcome the publication. The report shows that islands face disadvantage in terms of agricultural funding structures and tiered support.
“This research highlights the higher rate of crofting across the islands compared to the mainland, but worryingly also highlights that current Government policies negatively impact smaller producers, such as crofters, due to disproportionate overhead compliance expenses, and additional costs for managing common grazings, which in turn disincentivise enrolment, amongst other built-in inequalities for islanders.”
Rhoda Grant stated that if the report had been available before the Bill was voted on , amendments could have been brought forward to ensure that the island-specific rural issues that are flagged in the study were addressed.
You can download the Orkney specific key points in the Report here:
Speaking on behalf of the three island areas, Orkney Islands Council’s Leader Heather Woodbridge commented:
“We welcome the publication of this research from SRUC that highlights the critical role the agriculture sector plays in our island communities.
“The report demonstrates clearly that our agricultural sector is woven into the fabric of our communities and the role it plays in managing the environment of our beautiful islands. I would urge the Scottish Government to factor this report into their evidence-based policy making approach when forming the Rural Support Plan, Rural Delivery Plan and National Islands Plan, as well as other secondary legislation accompanying the Agriculture and Rural Communities Bill.
“What is abundantly clear, is that our farmers are proud of the very important role that they play in our communities and that with appropriate policy and other support, agriculture can contribute to buoyant island economies and strong island communities.”
Fiona Grahame