The UK horticulture industry is facing a critical shortage of labour if urgent action isn’t taken, a new survey has found.
The NFU survey of labour providers found that the number of seasonal workers coming to work on British farms has dropped 17 per cent, leaving some critically short of people to harvest fruit and veg.
There were more than 1,500 unfilled vacancies on British farms in May alone, according to the survey, with the proportion of returnees dropping from 65 to 33 per cent through the first five months of the year.
That has led the NFU to call on the government and new Defra secretary of state Michael Gove to provide reassurances to growers that there will be clarity on how farms will access reliable labour post-Brexit.
The survey comes on the same day that a report by consultants Andersons warned of soaring soft-fruit prices if the government doesn’t act soon to put a new seasonal workers’ permit scheme in place, and represents an escalation of industry efforts to raise awareness of an impending crisis.
NFU horticulture and potatoes board chairman Ali Capper said: “A lack of clarity regarding the UK’s future relationship with the EU and a weakened sterling has contributed to the reduction in workers on farm now being reported by labour providers who source seasonal workers.
“Farmers and growers need to know how the government will deal with the need from industries that rely on seasonal workers and the NFU is calling for reassurance farmers will be able to source a reliable and competent workforce both now and in the future.
“Without that, this trend is likely to continue and at this stage in the season any further tightening in the workforce will hit hard on farms.”
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