UK Announces £65 Million Support Package for Farmers Battling Drought
· Bloomberg HT
The UK government has unveiled an emergency £65 million funding package to support producers enduring one of the driest periods on record and to bolster water infrastructure.
The government has taken action following the driest July on record in England and Wales. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced the approval of an additional £65 million ($88 million) support package for drought-affected farmers. Addressing the strategic importance of food production, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham made the following statement:
Our capacity to grow our own food is a matter of national security. That is how I will approach it.
The additional funding is intended to strengthen sustainable farming incentives, make it easier for producers to build reservoirs, and improve access to water during drought periods. According to an analysis released, Britain's grain harvest is expected to fall to its worst level since records began in 1984.