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MSP welcomes funding for north-east pig farmers after calling for government support


By David Porter

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Aberdeenshire East MSP Gillian Martin has welcomed funding for north-east pig farmers after calling on the Scottish Government to help the sector earlier this month.

The Scottish Government have confirmed pig farmers will be able to apply for a £715,000 hardship fund.

A financial support package will help the sector during the current issues over exports.
A financial support package will help the sector during the current issues over exports.

It comes after the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said “active consideration” was being given by the Scottish Government after a Covid-19 outbreak at Scotland’s only major pig abattoir caused huge disruption for exports to China.

Last month, processing operations at Quality Pork Limited (QPL) in Brechin had to be temporarily closed after more than 40 staff tested positive for Covid-19.

The abattoir processes around 6000 pigs per week with the temporary closure leading to a backlog.

Loss of certificates to export to China also meant the value of carcasses dropped in value causing huge financial losses to farmers.

The financial support will cover partial deductions applied to the price paid for pigs processed through the abattoir from 8 February up until the end of March.

Further details of the scheme and how affected farmers are to be supported will be published on the Scottish Government website in due course.

Commenting, Gillian Martin MSP said: “I raised this very important issue with the First Minister at FMQs earlier this month, and directly with Cabinet Secretary Fergus Ewing, and I am really pleased the Scottish Government has now stepped in to support pig farmers in the north-east and across Scotland.

“The Covid-19 pandemic had already put pressure on pig farmers in how they work, and the temporary closure of the abattoir caused additional difficulties to a sector that is at the heart of the North East economy.

"I’ve been liaising with both the Scottish Government and the NFUS on this issue directly.

“This £715,000 hardship fund will help farmers access vital financial support now in the face of their current challenging working environment and I want to thank all the farmers in my constituency who got in touch to raise this issue with me.”

The scheme aims to cover partial deductions applied to the price paid for pigs processed through the abattoir from February 8 up until the end of this month.

NFU Scotland pigs committee chairman, Jamie Wyllie, welcomed the support package:“We have already heard from some producers that they have seriously considered giving up, which would affect the critical mass of the industry.

“This support from the Scottish Government recognises the impact of Covid and will go some way towards helping pig producers continue to produce, thus sustaining the important critical mass.”


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