The United Kingdom has concluded plans to offer 43,000 seasonal worker visas to the agricultural sector.
The government has also prolonged the visa programme for an additional five years, extending it until 2029.
According to available information, the decision was taken following Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s announcement about the largest-ever round of farming grants at the NFU Conference earlier this year.
This comes with a total of £427 million on offer to farmers, doubling the investment in productivity schemes.
In a bid to address shortages in the food supply chain by investing in technology to lessen the reliance on migrant labour, the United Kingdom is targeting the horticulture sector and an additional 2,000 to the poultry sector in 2025.
It has extended the seasonal worker visa route for an additional five years until 2029 to allow ample time to plan, adapt and also provide stability and clear guidance for farmers and businesses.
Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said: “We have a world-class food and drink sector, and the measures announced today will strengthen this by boosting funding for the cutting-edge technology that will reduce reliance on migrant labour in the long term.
“Businesses do best when they can plan effectively for the future, which is why we’ve extended the seasonal worker visa route until 2029 to give farmers and growers the certainty they need to thrive.”
[Eagle Online]
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