Welsh farming must be at the forefront of Brexit trade negotiations, Paul Davies AM will say when he meets the UK Government’s DEFRA secretary on Monday.
On the first day of the Royal Welsh show in Llanelwedd – one of Europe’s largest agricultural shows – Paul Davies AM, the Shadow Secretary for Rural Affairs, will meet with Michael Gove MP to stress the importance of farming to the Welsh economy and its cultural identity.
Mr Davies will make his case for ensuring that Welsh farmers maintain the best possible access to the single market, pointing to the fact that 90% of Welsh agricultural exports go to the EU.
Among his proposals to Mr Gove will be the replacement of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) with a system fit for the 21st century.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Mr Davies said:
“Welsh farming brings £6.1bn annually to the Welsh economy, and supports a workforce of around 53,500. It is vital that the UK Government puts the sector at the forefront of Brexit trade negotiations.
“I look forward to meeting with Michael Gove at the Royal Welsh showground, at what is undoubtedly the pinnacle event of the British agricultural calendar.
“There are many things to discuss, none more pressing than the importance Welsh farmers ascribe to maintaining seamless access to the single market, to which 90% of their goods are exported.
“I hope also to impress on my colleague the enormous value of maintaining a prosperous Welsh farming sector, given the deep intertwinement that exists between agriculture and the Welsh language. If one languishes, then so too does the other, and that cannot be allowed to happen.
“I have no doubt that the UK Government will deliver the best possible outcome for Wales in our withdrawal negotiations and I look forward to continuing my work with its ministers to help achieve this.”
Farmer and Welsh Conservative leader, Andrew RT Davies, said:
“The Royal Welsh Show is a fantastic opportunity for farmers and businesses to take a break from their daily graft to come together and showcase to the world their best produce.
“I look forward to welcoming Michael Gove MP to the showground where my colleagues and I will be championing the Welsh farming sector and making sure that it takes front and centre in the ongoing EU trade negations.
“There are a range of opportunities for Wales as we leave the EU and I want to make sure that we are best placed to take advantage of them. I am confident that Mr Gove, and my colleagues in the Cabinet, will be instrumental in enabling this.”
