Entry and exit from agri-environmental schemes in Wales, Welsh Assembly Government
Julie Ingram, Chris Short, Jane Mills, Pete Gaskell, Janet Dwyer, Nick Lewis, Emma Dennis and Rhiannon Fisher worked on this project in 2008-9 for the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) which sought to understand farmers’ motivations for entering and for exiting agri-environment schemes (AES) in Wales. The research contributed to the evidence base required for the full-scale review of all the agri-environment schemes (AES) funded as part of Rural Development Programme (RDP). In particular it aimed to help the Department of Rural Affairs (DRA) to develop a greater understanding of key factors that lead to successful AES.
The research concentrated on the Tir Gofal and, to a lesser extent, ESA schemes. It involved four phases: a comprehensive literature review; a telephone survey of 353 agreement holders and 115 non-agreement holders; semi-structured face-to-face interviews with 28 agreement holders and 12 non-agreement holders; and two workshops with AES Project Officers (POs).
The research found that due to the heterogeneity of farmers many different types of motivations for entry and non-entry are at work but these were, in the most part, linked to farm capacity. Capital payments and fitting in with the farming system were key factors in determining scheme uptake. Implications for policy were considered and areas for improvement were suggested such as introducing a mechanism for monitoring and feedback of the schemes’ environmental achievements and encouraging a broader recognition of farmers’ efforts. Ensuring that AES are compatible with farming systems of targeted farmers, providing good PO support and capital payments were also highlighted as important. The findings were presented at a workshop attended by a number of WAG policy makers and deliverers.
