COMMENT - Salute to an industry so vital to us all (From Evesham Journal)

COMMENT - Salute to an industry so vital to us all

9:30am Thursday 21st June 2012 in Letters

THE wind blew and the heavens opened, but not even the disappointing weather could put a damper on spirits at Malvern’s Three Counties Show.

The annual celebration of agriculture and rural life carried on regardless, although organisers concede that visitor numbers were down on previous years.

It is important that the show weathers (excuse the pun) this sort of setback. For it is more than just a jamboree, it is an important showcase for one of Britain’s most important industries – farming.

Indeed, the NFU, the voice of the industry, used the show to launch a new campaign that aims to highlight what farming contributes to the country. It points out that the industry underpins our largest manufacturing sector – food and drink. For every £1 that farming contributes to the economy, our food manufacturers and wholesalers contribute a further £5.

In addition, 3.5million people are employed in farming and food, which together form the country’s fourth largest exporting sector.

Farming also makes an immense contribution to the environment – two-thirds of farmland, for instance, is managed under an agri-environment scheme.

We are happy to salute an industry of which we are proud.