Basingstoke MP, Maria Miller, met with local farmers and the National Farmers Union (NFU), in order to discuss current trends and concerns in the UK’s farming industry.
Maria said: “I was glad to meet with our local farmers and the NFU to discuss the issues that matter to them and the farming sector more broadly. Of chief concern is the war in Ukraine, which we know has had a direct impact on energy and food prices, as well as, critically for the farming industry, the supply of fertiliser.
“Russia’s abhorrent invasion and the worldwide ramifications has emphasised the need for enhanced domestic food security here in the UK, which the Government is pursing through its National Food Strategy. I am grateful to our farming community for their frank and open discussion of the best ways to address these key issues.
“As a predominantly urban constituency, it may seem surprising to some people in Basingstoke that we have a number of resident farmers who manage the land around our town. As a nation we are becoming ever more conscious of environmental issues. With around 70% of the UK being agricultural land, farmers are the lifeblood of the UK countryside, which is often underappreciated. It is therefore vital that efforts to protect and enhance our natural environment work hand in hand with our farming community.”
