Gwyther's 'zero' comments attacked

Christine Gwyther's remarks were 'ill-informed'

Welsh Agriculture Secretary Christine Gwyther has been criticised for her comments that farming's contribution to the Welsh economy was "close to zero".

Ms Gwyther made the controversial statement in response to an Assembly question.

But Dr Emrys Evans from the Royal Welsh Agriculture Society said the statement displayed "total ignorance of the role of agriculture in rural life generally".

We have an obligation to voice our disquiet and our deep concern about the future

Dr Emrys Evans, Royal Welsh Agriculture Society

Dr Evans - chairman of the RWAS board of management - said he had been "distressed" by the "ill-informed" debate over the importance of farming.

He said some members of the assembly had displayed a complete lack of sympathy and understanding of the prolonged crisis in the industry".

'Enormous contribution'

He added: "In claiming that agriculture's contribution to the overall economy was almost zero, no credit was given in the appraisal to the fact that it was undertaken at a time when farm product prices were almost on the floor.

"Moreover, no allowance was made in the assessment of agriculture's enormous contribution to tourism and the environment and the degree to which many farmers have diversified over the years."

Contribution: Farming still adds to the economy

He added that no allowance had been made either for the fact that many businesses in rural communities are totally dependent on a thriving agriculture industry.

"Farmers and rural communities are having a raw deal and I maintain that we have an obligation to voice our disquiet and our deep concern about the future," he said.

Royal Welsh

Meanwhile, all the major agricultural traders have confirmed they will be exhibiting at the Royal Welsh Show this year.

Organisers of the event said they had received a positive response, inspite of the industry's difficulties this year.

There will be more than 1,000 trade stands at the showground at Llanelwedd, and demand has been so heavy that more than 200 applications have been turned down.

New exhibitors at the July show this year will include the Irish Tourist Board and the South Wales Police Wildlife Crime Display.