Chancellor Sajid Javid has confirmed £3 billion of funding for the year ahead to support farmers once the UK leaves the EU.
Javid said the cash will allow farmers to “plan for the future, sow their crops and care for their livestock with confidence.”
The UK will leave the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Direct Payments scheme, which supports farmers across Europe with subsidies, in 2020. This will be replaced by a new system based on public money for public goods, the Chancellor explained.
The cash injection, which is spread across two years, will allow the funding for Direct Payments for 2020 to continue at the same level as 2019 and supplement the remaining EU funding that farmers will receive for development projects until 2023 at the latest. The government insisted it will guarantee the current annual budget to farmers in every year of the Parliament.
“When we leave the EU and are freed from the Common Agricultural Policy, we will be able to support our vital rural communities – who are a cornerstone of life in the UK – with a fairer and less bureaucratic system,” said Javid.
“Farmers can enter the New Year with confidence that they have our backing and will be able to thrive after Brexit.”
Defra secretary Theresa Villiers added: “Outside the EU we will have a simpler, fairer funding system – one that rewards farmers for enhancing our environment and safeguarding our high animal welfare standards.
“We are committed to making sure our rural communities feel the benefits of Brexit and will ensure our farmers get a better deal.
“The CAP is an EU policy that provides financial support to farmers in Member States. The Direct Payments scheme forms the majority of spending under the CAP and provides subsidies to farmers based on the area of land under management.
“The funding announced today will be available from late 2020, as in previous years.”
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