Sunday April 2/2000 BBC2, 18.15

Sunday April 2/2000
BBC2, 18.15

Bitter Harvest
After decades of prosperity, British agriculture is reaping a bitter harvest. Incomes are falling, thousands are leaving the land and consumers are suspicious of tainted food. But why are so few farmers cashing in on the potentially huge new market for organic produce? Are they victims of Government neglect, or have decades of subsidies left them incapable of helping themselves? Lesley Curwen reports.

Work Woes
As Britain's dole queues have steadily shortened, the Government has recently revived "full employment" as an achievable goal. But in Birmingham, where Rover's Longbridge plant looks set to shed thousands of jobs, hopes of eradicating unemployment look set to be dashed. John Penycate has been visiting the West Midlands, and asks whether the region's economy can be transformed quickly enough to provide opportunities for the armies of workers now facing redundancy.