Northern Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Edwin Poots has called on George Eustice, UK Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to help UK farmers through the crisis they are currently facing.
Namely, Poots referred to the knock-on effects of the war in Ukraine, the ongoing pork sector problems, rising input costs and specifically for Northern Ireland, the changes to sailing on P&O ferries.
“The shocking crisis in Ukraine has had an impact in our part of the world as businesses struggle to deal with the escalating costs of cereals, energy and fertilizers in particular,” he said.
“We must be as prepared as we can be for further disruptions to our supply chains as a result of a prolonged conflict in Ukraine, or else we will see a real and damaging impact on our local industries.
“I also believe that there is a strong case for a national intervention to prevent the possible collapse of the pig sector.
“While the pork sector is the most acute concern, we must also be prepared to step in to help other sectors if output prices do not respond adequately or quickly enough to compensate for the large increases in input costs.
“We need to act quickly to maintain our food production capacity. That is why I have asked Secretary of State George Eustice MPs to urgently consider a range of measures, including financial assistance to UK farmers to support them through the crisis. .
“I also requested that our local Agri-Food Industry Forum meetings be held weekly so that we have up-to-date information directly from the sector.”
Poots spoke after a meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (IMG EFRA) of his colleagues in England, Scotland and Wales.
IMG EFRA was visited by George Eustice MP, Secretary of State, Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), President; Victoria Prentis MP, Prime Minister, Defra; Mairi Gougeon MSP Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs in the Islands; Lorna Slater MSP, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy, and Biodiversity; and Lesley Griffiths MS Minister for Rural Affairs in North Wales, and Trefnydd.
During the meeting, Minister Poots also highlighted the suspension of P&O ferry sails as a particular cause for concern for Northern Ireland trade.
“Northern Ireland is facing a challenge due to its geographical dependence on the supply of critical goods (food and medicines) carried on GB-NI ferries across the Irish Sea,” he said.
“A disruption of the crucial import and export supply lines has the potential to cause short-term disruption to Northern Ireland businesses and ultimately to consumers.
“I have asked that food be given priority on all sails coming into Northern Ireland to ensure that food continues to reach the shelves.
“My officials are working urgently with the government and with key players, including Belfast Harbor, the British Retail Consortium and the relevant ferry companies to identify the issues and reductions that provide support for resolving this issue.”
Minister Poots concluded: “It is essential that we offer our support to our agri-food industry in these difficult times. I have also met with our supermarkets, retailers, industry representatives and banks to assess and discuss the current situation as we operate in the Government can help.
“I have urgently written to a number of my fellow ministers asking for financial assistance for the agri-sector and support for the movement of critical goods in and out of Northern Ireland. Our food sector is absolutely essential and it is vital that we support it.
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