BY TOMMY NETHERY
t.nethery@ulsterherald.com
RESULTS of major new survey are being hailed as a morale boost for farming families and custodians of the countryside. The joint Queen's University/University of Ulster 'Life and Times Survey,' looking at public attitudes to farming and countryside in Northern Ireland, has revealed an overwhelmingly positive reaction from the public towards the role of farming.
The survey revealed that 89% of respondents perceive farms and farming families as keeping the countryside alive while 91% disagreed with the statement that farming as a way of life should be allowed to die out.
Welcoming the findings, UFU president Kenneth Sharkey said that the union fully supported the research because they wanted to engage constructively with the public and learn more about their views on the role which farmers play.
"I think the results show the public have a sophisticated and informed view about farming and the vast majority appreciate the role which farming families are playing in producing good food, looking after the countryside, creating jobs and keeping people in rural communities," said Mr Sharkey.
"We want a transparent Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and we welcome opportunities to explain more to the public about what farmers do. The industry is maintaining over 50,000 jobs on farms and another 18,000 jobs in the food processing industry. Our agri-food sector generates £2.4 billion turnover annually for the local economy and I think these survey results show that the public acknowledges the importance of the sector."
Other key points revealed in the study showed that 67% of those surveyed thought that Northern Ireland farmers produce better quality safe food than that produced elsewhere while 68 per cent of the population believe farming in Northern Ireland should be subsidised to some degree.
Eighty three per cent of respondents view farms as adding to the beauty of the countryside; 70% agreed that there is more community spirit in the countryside and 72% perceive the countryside to be a better place to raise children.
Mr Sharkey added that the reformed CAP was delivering vital public goods. "The CAP ensures the highest standards of animal welfare and food quality, which consumers demand. The reformed CAP also has a very strong environmental dimension and helps local farmers to maintain over 80% of our countryside. For example farmers have planted over half a million native trees in recent years, through CAP supported schemes. I think these are type of initiatives which the public have responded positively to."
