Dairy Industry 'Would Collapse Quickly' Without Support

Tuesday, 21 February 2023 07:00

Guernsey's dairy industry has been given a further States bailout to prevent the industry collapsing.

£243,000 will be given to the sector over the next three months, to help ease the pressure of raising feed and fertiliser costs.

Nearly half a million pounds was given to farmers in the island last July, as the Russian invasion of Ukraine affected global markets.

Deputy Peter Ferbrache, President of the Policy and Resources committee, says the urgency was stressed to them when making the decision on further support.

"We were told if we didn't do it (collapse) would happen pretty quickly. They said the industry was experiencing unprecedented times."

A report is due to be presented to P&R and the Environment and Infrastructure committee next month, as a viable long-term plan for the industry is drawn up.

"There will a second part to this package, and it goes back to last July when we gave them the first set of support yo help the farmers through those months.

We are looking to see what can happen, because clearly what can't happen is that every year we're paying out the best part of £1 million of taxpayers' money."

Environment & Infrastructure President Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez says the funding is just a stop-gap.

"Dairy farming and our iconic Guernsey breed have a unique place in Guernsey’s identity, culture and landscape.

In this current financial climate, emergency funding is needed to see our farmers through this interim period while we carry out a review on the sector’s long-term sustainability."