News Abroad
'Activists and politicians have too much control over agricultural policy'
Discontent among farmers about the government is not an exclusively Dutch or European problem. On the other side of the world, in Australia, more and more farmers are upset about the Australian government's climate and agricultural policy. At least that is what a survey by the National Farmers Federation (NFF) shows.
According to 73% of the 1.026 participants, government policy is harming the agricultural sector. 80% of respondents indicated that they believe the government does not understand or listen to farmers. This was 41% last year. Only 10% think the government has positive plans for the agricultural sector. Despite the dissatisfaction with the government, 89% of the participants in the survey agree with the statement 'I love what I do'. 78% thought their local community was a good place to live.
Activists and politicians
The results of the survey do not come as a surprise to David Jochinke, chairman of the NFF. "Despite the challenges that keep farmers awake at night, it is good to see that they are proud of what they do and where they live," Jochinke writes in an explanation of the figures. "But yes, farmers are getting frustrated. They feel that they are not being listened to and that they are getting caught in a web of restrictive rules, which come from activist groups or politicians, not from agriculture itself. With a bit of luck, the tide will turn. Farmers are ready and willing to work with the government to bring about change."
Jurphaas Lugtenburg
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