Falklands : Councillors Committed to Camp Economy Improvements
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 23.10.2006 (Article Archived on 06.11.2006)
Councillors are committed to improving Camp Economy.
Councillors Committed to Camp Economy Improvements
By J. Brock (FINN)
Following the Falkland Islands Government’s short term measures to provide financial assistance to the farming community, introduced in the preparation of 2006/07 budget, councillors have held another workshop to consider longer term measures.
Since 44% of farms had taken advantage of the mortgage interest holiday at a cost of £85,500, Councillors were encouraged Only 5 farms on which FIG or FIDC held mortgages had not participated in the scheme. In contrast, only one farm with a private sector mortgage had applied to join the scheme. It seems that 14 of the participating farms had opted to continue making repayments in order to reduce the term of their loan. The Department of Agriculture advised that, as planned, FIG had met the cost of internal wool freight for the last wool clip and that there had been a good response to changes in the rules which allowed more flexibility in the use of Agricultural Labour Scheme funds. All in all, the short term measures had been welcomed and had made a positive impact.
Councillors have agreed that they are not minded to repeat the short term measures next year but that effort should be concentrated in achieving increases in agricultural productivity and farm incomes by promoting greater commitment to the National Agricultural Business Plan. The following measures are now to be developed for further consideration:
- Improving the quality of communications.
- Identifying ways in which land in Camp which is suitable for housing development might be purchased by FIG so that it can facilitate the growth of the Camp population.
- Exploring, with FIMCo, the expansion of new local markets – particularly for beef.
- Continuing to permit on farm work eligible for Labour Scheme grants
- Making access to Agriculture Department grant schemes conditional upon participation in training and development activities and production of farm accounts.
- Tailored packages of assistance will be developed for ‘failing’ farms where the owner wants to leave farming as an owner/manager.
- Access to investment finance at low rates of interest.
- The replacement of dedicated marketing skills within FIDC.
- Possible tax incentives.
Cllr. Ian Hansen, who holds the portfolio for the Camp economy said:
“There is no doubt that the short term measures introduced earlier this year have been very welcome. Farms continue to diversify wherever possible and tourism has made a big difference to some. That trend needs to continue. FIG remains totally committed to following the Agricultural Business Plan and so the challenge now is to encourage wider participation and more rapid progress. We firmly believe that there is great potential. We also accept that a very small number of farms continue to find it impossible to make ends meet and FIG will, if requested, work with them to find long term solutions.”
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