Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 19
19
The mental health of farmers is one of the biggest challenges currently facing the sector.
Conclusion
The mental health of farmers is one of the biggest challenges currently facing the sector. In October 2021, the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution reported that almost half of the farming community (47%) were experiencing some form of anxiety, and 36% were probably or possibly depressed.57 In light of the Department’s response, we asked about the mental health of farmers and the support the Department planned to provide to the farming sector during the transition to the new scheme. The Department pointed to the Farming Resilience Fund as a key source of support. This is a scheme to offer advice to farmers so they can understand best farming practice, how they can improve their business planning and boost productivity. However, the Department’s description indicated that the fund does not offer direct support to struggling farmers, only direct them towards other schemes. The Department also highlighted its work with farming charities, and the 51 Q 130 52 C&AG’s report paras 6, 1.4, 1.13, Figure 4 53 Q 105 54 Qq 92–94, 116 55 Q 94 56 Qq 59–60 57 Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, The Big Farming Survey 2021, 15 October 2021 Environmental Land Management Scheme 17 RPA emphasised that, instead of its past focus on IT systems, performance and payments, it saw its role as ‘here to help’. It wanted to have a closer relationship with the farmers themselves and made a commitment to do whatever it could to help farmers.58 Supporting farmers through the transition
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
6: PAC conclusion: We are not doing enough to support farmers through the transition to the new schemes and alleviate any anxiety its plans are causing. 6: PAC recommendation: The Department should identify what further support is needed to help farmers during the transition, including where farmers will face significant business challenges in the short term. The Department should particularly set out what it will do to support farmer’s well-being through the transition. 6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation Target implementation date: September 2022 6.2 The government has already been acting on this issue in the early stages of the transition. 6.3 The government recognises the agricultural transition is a significant change for farmers – that’s why the government decided to implement the reforms over a seven-year period to give farmers time to plan and adapt, and why the government is offering free business planning advice through a fully funded resilience programme to help farmers understand their options, plan, and adapt. The government also recognises the importance of farmers’ well-being and the challenges currently facing the sector. Whilst the Resilience Fund does not support standalone well-being projects, it is open for applications which incorporate well-being and mental health support into a wider programme of business advice, and it ensures that projects signpost to relevant services where appropriate. Stakeholder feedback from the Initial Phase of the Resilience Fund strongly suggested that farmers find the greatest value in this kind of integrated approach 6.4 Through the government’s productivity and innovation, research and development grant offers, careful design of new schemes and improvement of existing schemes, targeted business support and the work of others such as the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), the government is working to ensure all farmers have the opportunity to manage their business effectively and positively through the transition. 6.5 The government regularly monitors how farmers are responding to the changes. The government is working with farming bodies, farming charities, intermediaries, and farmers themselves to understand how the transition is progressing and what support farmers need, so that the government can continually refine and improve the support offered to farmers based on what is learned. 6.6 The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Rural Payments Agency will continue to engage with the farming community through attendance at agricultural shows, Farming shows, workshops, and other large events, and through direct engagement with farmers, farming organisations and charities and other stakeholders.