Fareham MP Suella Braverman has met with local members of the National Farmers Union (NFU).
Suella with local NFU members
At the meeting, with farmers from Tom Parker Farms and Meon Bye Farm, Suella discussed farming in Fareham and learnt about the important work local farmers do to contribute towards our food supply and their contribution to the area’s economy.
There are 25 NFU members in Fareham farming roughly 2,500 acres of land, which amounts to around 20 per cent of the constituency. Farming directly employs 251 people locally and contributes £4.68 million to Fareham’s economy. Across Hampshire, farmers manage 58 per cent of county’s countryside.
As well as local farming, farmers were eager to discuss the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union (EU) and what Brexit will mean for local agriculture.
Suella said, “I would like to thank our local NFU members for taking the time to discuss local farming with me. Farming makes a huge contribution to our local economy and in ensuring we all have food to eat.
“I was pleased to be able to discuss the opportunities from Brexit. The UK’s agriculture, food and fisheries sectors are heavily influenced by EU laws, through frameworks such as the Common Agricultural Policy.
“Leaving the EU will provide Britain with the freedom to deliver its vision for a world-leading, sustainable, food and farming sector for farmers and consumers.”