MALNUTRITION: CAP -- The EU Common Agricultural Policy

The Guardian,  3 January 2011
James Armstrong (Letters, 29 December) points out that £3.9bn is paid to farmers through the EU's common agricultural policy. However, total income from farming in the UK in 2009 was £4.07bn, so without this money, income from farming would have been almost non-existent. While money from the CAP does allow a dwindling number of farmers to stay in business and produce food for the nation, its principal effects, intended or not, are to enable the supermarkets to make massive profits and consumers to buy food at prices which do not reflect the true costs of production. By all means abolish "farm subsidies". But be prepared to spend a far higher proportion of your household budget on food.

Huw Rowlands : Chester

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/03/eu-farming