THE GOVERNMENT'S performance in supporting farmers is sharply criticised in a letter from the Dartmoor Commoners' Council to the Hills Task Force.
The task force was set up last December by the Agriculture Ministry to review how the government could help hill farmers to develop sustainable businesses. A south west regional consultation was held in Exeter in January.
According to the commoners, the government's support has been very inadequate and it needs to make some drastic changes. Those who need assistance most are least likely to get it, wrote the commoners' ecological adviser Peter Beale in the council's submission to the task force.
This is because those with greater experience, social skills and access to professional advice win grants more effectively than those with fewer such advantages, he said.
'Diversification is offered as a salvation, but it is not a panacea for all.
'Schemes which are capital-intensive are of little use to many farmers who cannot match-fund. Most diversification schemes are too speculative.'
Projects need to secure sufficient funds at the outset to provide benefits to the community, according to Mr Beale. 'Some Dartmoor farmers commented that they had to wait too long for sheep and cattle subsidy payments, causing real hardship.'
Per head payments for cattle should be retained during the current period of instability.
Environmentally Sensitive Area payments needed to be increased and ESA schemes should be agreed over a longer period. At present, farmers who looked after their land were less likely to qualify for stewardship payments than those who neglected or mismanaged it. 'Stewardship schemes do not help those who are not making a profit, since there can be no compensation for profit foregone.'
The commoners also called for new legislation to give it more power to manage its land effectively.