The government is in a hurry to come up with short-term plans to make the agricultural sector greener on the one hand and to give farmers sufficient perspective on the other. Despite the collapse of agricultural consultations, according to responsible minister Piet Adema, there are enough proposals that can form the basis for taking measures on their own.
Adema does not want to say before the Council of Ministers how long it will take exactly. Friday’s weekly cabinet meeting will be largely dominated by the failed consultation with the farmers’ organization LTO and the steps that now need to be taken for the agricultural sector. Nitrogen Minister Christianne van der Wal is more emphatic: “We can’t afford the luxury of working on the floor in the cabinet for months now,” she says. “It takes some speed.”
Almost home
In addition to a draft agreement to be published shortly, there was also an internal cabinet plan, Adema said. Additionally, the chairman of the now defunct Agricultural Consultation is currently working on his own consultancy. This provides the cabinet with “all kinds of ingredients on the basis of which we can make good steps”. Furthermore, the draft agreement was well advanced, Adema stressed again on Friday. Van der Wal argues this: “The vessel did not enter port, but was almost port.”
Adema indicated that he wants above all to look ahead, but it will still take longer before there is clarity for farmers, now that the agricultural agreement has failed.
“It is clear that the withdrawal of the LTO means that many farmers remain insecure, that many farmers still have to wait for clarity on their future, and that could have been different,” said an agitated Adema. “I could have also been here with a signed deal, where we could have said, look guys, this is your future. We will work with this.’
Source: BNR
Fernando Dowling is an author and political journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. He has a deep understanding of the political landscape and a passion for analyzing the latest political trends and news.
