Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair has backed calls to ensure adequate support is put in place for sheep and beef farmers, as the recovery phase of Covid-19 begins.
He said: “The sectors in question face an extremely tough time, especially as they seek to ensure safe and continuous food chains remain in place. This is further affected by the downturn in the tourism and hospitality sector, which has caused a serious ripple effect.
“I am previously on record as having called for a full, varied support package to be put in place for our farmers and want to see this progressed to the full – especially as we need our food chains to be fully able to respond to the lifting of lockdown restrictions.
“While this has not been fully forthcoming, it is now essential that we get things moving and I would have hoped for greater flexibility within the current Covid-19 DAERA package to meet emerging need over the coming weeks and months, something I have been pushing for in recent weeks.”