Following several years of campaigning by the NFU, the UK government has announced a five-year extension to the Seasonal Workers Scheme, which will help give many farming and growing businesses the vital certainty needed to boost our national food security.
The announcement was made as part of a package of measures in response to the Shropshire Independent Review into Labour Shortages1. It provides much needed confidence for businesses and applicants, while also addressing concerns about the recruitment and upskilling of domestic staff.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: "This will be a huge relief for the horticulture and poultry sectors that rely on seasonal workers and is a brilliant win for the NFU, which has been campaigning for a long-term plan for seasonal workers for some time.
"We have seen in the past how damaging shortages of workers has been, with approximately £60 million worth of crops lost in 2022 due to a shortfall of workers. We know that with the correct trading conditions there are significant opportunities for growth and the commitment to a five-year scheme is very positive. Moving forward, it is vital to have assurance that the number of visas and the costs associated2 with accessing them will continue to meet the needs of our food producers.
"Funding announced for further automation of pack houses is also welcome, along with the commitment to accelerate the development of robotic crop harvesters. It is important that these positive announcements are reinforced by the Government at its forthcoming Farm to Fork Summit, and that the industry and government can work together to drive growth for UK food and farming."
Source: nfuonline.com