Britain's farming sector has concerns about access to labour and disappearing EU subsidies post-Brexit. According to a countywide study, growing numbers of firms are expecting to employ fewer people in the next three months.
The quarterly economic survey by Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, showed nearly one in 10 firms predict staff levels to decrease over the next quarter, up six points.
The findings – the first complete survey for the county since the EU vote – show the number expecting employment to increase fell four points to 27%.
Farmers, who have concerns about access to labour after Brexit, are following the UK’s impending negotiations with Europe very closely.
AC Goatham & Son, based in Hoo, grows more than one in five of the apples sold in the UK from its 18 farms across 2,000 acres in Kent, plus another 20 partner growers supplying apples and pears from another 1,500 to 2,000 acres. Most of these are picked by migrant workers.
Director Ross Goatham said: “The critical part for us is keeping access to that labour. You can’t find the volume of workers in the UK to pick the fruit because people either aren’t interested or not capable of doing the work.
“Without that labour availability we will never feed ourselves as a nation.”
