Dairy Farmers Struggle To Survive

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Dairy Farmers Struggle To Survive

Mark Ruskell, Green MSP for Mid Scotland & Fife, has claimed that an independent regulator and a tougher code of practice are needed to address the current imbalance in the grocery market, which is leading to vast profits for supermarkets, while farmers and small business struggle to survive. His warning came as Parliament debated the food supply chain on 9 October.

Greens have been warning of a looming crisis in the grocery supply chain for several years, pointing in particular to the plight of dairy farmers, who are paid below the cost of production for milk and the demise of high street shops. They have argued for a stronger code of conduct and an independent regulator to ensure producers and suppliers are not exploited by large supermarkets.

Mr Ruskell MSP was on the Environment & Rural Development Committee (ERDC) when the food supply chain inquiry took place. The ERDC's report echoes the Greens' concerns over the supermarkets' abuse of their buying power and the code of conduct which leaves suppliers' unable to report any unfair practices for fear of being de-listed by supermarkets.

Opaque & Unfair System

"Many farmers are increasingly desperate in their battle for fair trade. That's why they end up picketing milk processing depots and why a lot of the inquiry evidence was taken in private. Though farmers may protest en masse, individuals remain fearful of reprisals from supermarkets and processors. The system is clearly neither transparent nor fair," he said.

"A fairer code of conduct that applies throughout the supply chain is urgently needed if we are to create a more level playing field so that producers - and small high street businesses - no longer suffer as the supermarkets abuse their power. Also, there should be an independent ombudsman proactively spot checking the relationships in the food supply chain to tackle exploitation.

Action Needed

"Effective regulation and a levelling of the playing field must take place and Environment Minister Ross Finnie must act in a much more determined and direct way to achieve this. His LibDem colleagues in Westminster have been more vocal in backing calls for better regulation - it's time we saw more action from Mr Finnie in order to achieve trade justice for Scottish farmers."