A North West perspective
Crofting: The three
legged stool
The future of our landscapes, rural economies and the nation’s food chains are intricately linked to the survival of our crofters. How can crofts thrive and prosper while also being expected to deliver on the aspirations of Government policy? NIALL CAMPBELL, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, NORTH WEST SCOTLAND Crofts produce food, support biodiversity and manage carbon
Not tomention concerns over labour and attracting, as well as
so on the face of it, there should be a perfect unison between
retaining, new entrants into crofting.
our crofters and Government policy. All of this has come at once, causing growing concern across However, striking the right balance is difficult, and all too often
the sector about what Government policy will look like post
the approach to policy development is modelled on larger
2025, and what future support will exist for crofting.
farming systems. We need to change our approach to crofting, thinking of it as a three-legged stool; producing food, promoting biodiversity, and managing carbon in equal measure. What would happen if our policy makers got it wrong? The reality is this could push (and in many cases is already pushing) active crofting over the edge and could have serious consequences for many. Crofts need to be financially viable. The crofter needs to be able to pay the associated costs of managing livestock, growing crops and see a return on the time they have personally invested. We now live in a world that has become increasingly volatile for our farmers and crofters. As they face challenges such as extreme weather events, input price rises or regular ferry disruptions for those living and working on islands.
Perspectives | Autumn 2023
