Prime Minister Andy Burnham has unveiled a £65m funding package aimed at assisting farmers struggling with severe drought conditions affecting British agriculture. The announcement follows criticism from within Labour’s parliamentary ranks and grassroots members regarding the government’s perceived slow response to the ongoing climate crisis, which has been marked by widespread wildfires and drought affecting food production across the country.
The majority of the funding, approximately £50m, will be directed toward the sustainable farming incentive program in England, which compensates farmers for environmental stewardship activities. This allocation will increase the total SFI budget to £290m, with priority given to regions experiencing the most acute drought conditions. Additionally, £15m has been allocated to support the construction of on-farm reservoirs to help farmers manage water supplies during future dry periods.
Burnham convened a Cobra meeting earlier in the week to coordinate a government-wide response involving farming, water, and infrastructure sectors. The response includes regulatory flexibility allowing farmers typically restricted from cutting or grazing designated land to do so during periods of water scarcity without forfeiting program payments. Water access has also been simplified through modified environmental abstraction regulations and expedited licensing procedures.
Government officials announced support for nine new reservoir projects currently in development. However, industry representatives cautioned that the £15m allocation represents only a fraction of the infrastructure investment needed, with the majority of reservoir construction costs remaining the responsibility of farmers already facing elevated operational expenses and new tax obligations. The announcement comes as the country experiences its third significant drought in five years, prompting calls for accelerated climate adaptation measures and sustained long-term support mechanisms for agricultural producers.
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