The current government support measures offer little solace for Dutch arable farmers. All hopes are pinned on a compensation scheme for the surplus of chips potatoes, but it is not clear yet.
The package of support measures for companies affected by the corona crisis is broad, but at the same time insufficient in terms of compensation for Dutch arable farming.
One of the compensation measures is the so-called NOW scheme, with which affected entrepreneurs are compensated for their wage costs. However, practice shows that personnel costs in the arable farming sector are relatively low. “This does happen in horticulture, but not or hardly in arable farming,” agrees André Hoogendijk, director of the Arable Farming Trade Organization (BO). “Simply put: growers don't want to send staff from the dam, but their products.”
Insufficient
Then there is the TOGS scheme, with which companies can receive a one-off payment of €4.000 from the state treasury. This concerns companies that have been directly affected as a result of the corona crisis, such as retailers and companies in the sports and culture sectors. “Agriculture and horticulture are not included here,” says Hoogendijk. “In addition, the amount is far from sufficient when we look at the enormous damage to arable farming.
This mainly concerns chip potato cultivation, for which the government is working on an emergency fund. The chain, under the direction of BO Akkerbouw, conducts daily consultations with the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. Hoogendijk still calls that consultation constructive and notes that good thinking is being done with the sector. The urgency is seen. But it is not yet clear where it will ultimately lead. “LNV must make a proposal, but ultimately the cabinet decides on the finances.”
Huge time pressure
In addition, the chip sector is not the only one hoping for damage compensation. Floriculture and food horticulture have also been hit hard and are raising the alarm with the government. Hoogendijk: “From the sector we would like to see a fair compensation scheme that does justice to the damage in arable farming. At the same time, the government will want to keep it as simple as possible. So it remains to be seen whether an arrangement will be made and, if so, how it will be implemented. In any case, we urge the government to provide clarity quickly. The quality of potatoes continues to deteriorate every day. The time pressure is enormous.”