MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands' advanced agriculture gives farmers more choices

Agriculture in the Falkland Islands has undergone significant changes in recent years giving farmers far more choices and they can even mix farming with other activities.

The Department of Agriculture's (DoA) business plan is evolving to keep up with the times and sets out long term goals for agriculture in the Islands and in turn links with the Islands Plan which has been changed twice during the life of the DoA plan. A meeting of the Agriculture Advisory Committee last week considered a report from former Senior Agriculture Advisor Neil Judd on how the department's goals match the Islands Plan. Mr. Judd reported changes in farming that had taken place since FIG took the decision to develop a meat export industry and emphasised that many farmers were spending time on non-farm activities and, due to lack of available labour, activities on some farms were influenced by these factors. Director of Agriculture Phyl Rendell commented: "One area that has changed for farming since 2002/03 when the plan was drawn up is the vast growth in the road network that enables farmers to work off farm. Also Sand Bay Abattoir has started exporting sheep meat and processing beef for the local market and farmers are responding remarkably well to this new industry that requires high quality products." The committee discussed the way many farmers have moved away from ranching towards increased animal husbandry by growing fodder crops and preparing improved pasture in order to produce higher quality stock. Mrs Rendell commented: "There are far more choices for farmers these days which is really good. They can mix farming with other activities, they can grow wool and sell lambs, mutton and beef to the abattoir. I think it is quite remarkable how quickly many farmers have changed what they do to supply these markets." The DoA has a number of short term or annual objectives that help staff to be focused when planning seasonal projects, Mrs Rendell said: "They are drawn up after each Farmers' Week when the department has received feedback from farmers about what they want to see the department concentrating on to support profitability in farming". (Penguin News).-