UK Pledges £65m Extra Support for Farmers After Record Drought
Government Response to Drought Crisis
LONDON, Aug 15 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Saturday he was authorising £65 million ($88 million) of extra funding for farmers hit by a drought after the driest July on record in England and Wales.
Prime Minister's Statement
"Today we’re putting £65m more into supporting farmers through this drought and preparing for the summers ahead. They’re on the frontline of a changing climate and they shouldn’t be left to face it alone," Burnham said on X.
National Security and Food Supply
"The ability to grow our own food is national security. I’ll treat it that way," he said.
Details of the Support Package
Incentive Scheme for Sustainable Farming
The extra government support would bolster an incentive scheme for sustainable farming, make it easier for farmers to build reservoirs and improve access to water during droughts.
Impact on Agriculture
Record Low Cereal Harvest
Britain's cereal harvest is on track to be the worst since comparable records began in 1984, according to an analysis published earlier this month.
Additional Information
Exchange Rate
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Article Credits
(Writing by William Schomberg; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)