FARMERS need a fair deal — and they need it fast says West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett.

'They cannot wait much longer. It is time for action,' said Mr Burnett who attended a meeting of Okehampton and Hatherleigh NFU last Friday.

He promised to do all that he could to press on the Minister for Agriculture and the Prime Minister the depths of the problems.

'We are waiting for action because discrimination by several UK governments against their own agricultural industry has dragged down an industry which is already down on the floor,' he said.

Speaking to about 30 farmers Mr Burnett blamed the current and previous government for failing to capitalise on the agri-currency. He said every other country that had qualified for it had made use of it.

'Farmers believe that they can compete as long as they are on level terms.

'Given equal treatment the British agricultural industry is one of the most — if not the most — efficient in the world.'

He told the farmers that world demand for agricultural products is rising slowly and that was going to help farmers.

'I know that the currency problems are significant — especially exporting to Europe. But help is at hand with Objective Two and the Rural Development Programme.'

Mr Burnett said farmers were facing so many issues.

'We are all looking to the Rural White Paper coming out this summer. What we are hoping to see will be imaginative ideas to assist the agricultural diversity.'

But Mr Burnett said while there was a school of thought that felt farmers should be paid for caring for the countryside instead of food production this was not the solution.

'We have to produce food. Our food industry has to do that because without the agricultural industry it would be a disaster for the country in economic terms,' he said.

'It would make our balance of payments very much in the red because food would have to be imported.'

Mr Burnett believed farmers enjoyed considerable support from the public.

'People know and realise that farmers are on the rack. It is terrible because theirs is an industry whose welfare standards are the highest in the world.'

M.r Burnett said he had been pressing for a fair complaints procedure and ombudsman for MAFF 'because they make some terrible mistakes that are almost impossible to challenge'.

He said he was pleased last week that the government announced there is to be an appeals procedure against MAFF that can be investigated by farmers.

Chairman of the Okehampton and Hatherleigh NFU James McInnes described the mood at the meeting as 'very sombre'. There was an opportunity for a frank discussion with members knowing their MP left understanding the depth of the problem.

'A number of farmers told their personal stories and there were tears in their eyes. People don't know how to improve the situation,' he said.

Mr McInnes said the members asked Mr Burnett to approach the government to get the agri-currency compensation money for the green pound.

'The agricultural money is only available for a further 18 months — and if the government agreed to draw it down this March it disappears in 18 months.

'It is short-term cash we need to allow the agricultural industry to restructure. The government doesn't like using it but we really do need it this time,' he said.

Mr McInnes said a total of £3-billion had been lost in the last three years because of the strength of the pound.

'It's almost surreal because regardless of how efficient you are everybody is losing money. It doesn't make sense. Supermarkets are driving down the prices.

'If they do that farmers will go bankrupt and prices will start rising again because it would not be easy to import.'

He said it would be more sensible for government, supermarkets and farmers to make sure everybody made a reasonable living.