Why farming needs subsidies: Sir Eric Howells

I was rather alarmed to read that the House of Lords was calling for farm subsidies to go. Before making any rash statements, they should research why farming needs subsidies.

They should also note what has happened to the farming community and rural areas because of low or nil profit margins. The village school, Post Office, shop, filling station, churches and chapels are going. The village homes and farms are sold to wealthy city people looking for a second home.

There is no doubt that the price paid by the housewife is sufficient to maintain a healthy farming industry, the rural community, and allow a fair margin for the processor and retailer.

Unfortunately, a large percentage of the end price of food is demanded by the supermarkets. I would suggest that, before coming to these rash conclusions, the House of Lords should look at the way the supermarkets are operating and the effect it is having on our prime producers and others.

In 1995, I was paid 27p per litre for my milk, but in 2007 I was paid 17p. What was the price of milk on the supermarkets’ shelves on those dates?

Potato farmers claim that they are only having 20 per cent of the price charged by the supermarkets and pig farmers are leaving the industry in droves because of rising costs. Yet the supermarkets are charging three times the price received by the farmer.

The problem today is that we are governed by so-called intellectuals and not by successful entrepreneurs with business experience.

The future of the UK depends on having adequate food, fuel and water and the ability to pay for what we have to import to make up the deficiency.

Sir Eric Howells, Meadow View, Llanddewi Velfrey, Narberth, Pembrokeshire.