HC Deb 14 October 1991 vol 196 cc94-5W
Mr. Faulds

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider the provision of financial assistance to farmers to enable them to give up chemical pesticide control and adopt low-input farming.

Mr. Maclean

This Department is spending £20 million in the current year on research into pests and pesticides particularly aimed at reducing usage. ADAS provides advice on integrated pest management systems which are designed to reduce the input of agrochemicals.

A scheme to provide aid for farmers and growers to convert to organic production is being considered within the framework of the European Commission's proposals for Agriculture and the Environment.

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