Farmers in the UK are advocating for a universal basic income (UBI) following the introduction of the post-Brexit agriculture subsidy scheme, which many claim has resulted in financial difficulties. Delays in implementing sustainable farming schemes meant to replace the EU's common agricultural policy (CAP) have left many English farmers without expected funds. The new system has experienced low subscription rates, leading to an underspend of hundreds of millions from the £2.4 billion farming budget annually due to insufficient sign-ups.
Scotland and Wales have developed distinct farming schemes, while Northern Ireland has yet to establish its own due to the absence of a sitting government. In Wales, protests have emerged in response to plans requiring farmers to allocate 20% of their land for nature and tree planting.
Government forecasts and independent analyses indicate that the new nature payment schemes will not fully compensate for the absence of EU subsidies for most farmers. The nature schemes were designed to reward farmers for providing public goods rather than directly replacing CAP payments.
At least 100 farmers have joined BI4Farmers, a campaign advocating for a UBI for all UK farmers. They argue that EU subsidies previously kept farmers financially viable, and without them, many face the risk of going out of business. Riverford's analysis reveals that half of the surveyed farmers might cease operations due to post-Brexit trade agreements, uncertainty over farming payment schemes, and rising costs.
Sustainable farming advocates support UBI to allow farmers to explore nature-friendly practices without income loss. Will White from Sustain suggests UBI as a potential safety net, enabling farmers to pursue agroecological methods. Ruth West from the Oxford Real Farming Conference encourages stakeholders to support the BI4Farmers initiative for a sustainable farming future.
Source: The Guardian