The Scottish Crofting Federation (SCF) has rejected the Scottish Government’s published vision for the future of Scottish agriculture on the grounds that crofting barely features in it.
“Despite successive ministers for crofting giving assurances that the Scottish Government is very supportive of crofting”, said the SCF’s chair, Fiona Mandeville, “this doesn’t seem to be shared by those who make agricultural policy. The Scottish Government published their vision entitled ‘the Future of Scottish Agriculture’ and crofting is mentioned in only one of the nine outcomes. Crofting plays a vital role in the supply of high quality replacement stock and store animals, in maintaining High Nature Value landscape and in retaining vibrant rural populations. But despite the huge contribution crofting makes, it is hardly recognised in this top-level document.”
