Stay safe when touring farms, UUP urges community

Mr Robert Carmichael, the East Londonderry Ulster Unionist Association Chairman, has called on the community to “stay safe at all times when visiting farms as part of the summer holidays”.

     Mr Carmichael, speaking on behalf of the UUP association, said farm tourism was a steadily growing industry in the agricultural sector as farms sought to diversify into how they could remain financially stable. 

   Mr Carmichael added: “With the very good weather expected across Northern Ireland and the traditional Twelfth holidays coming, the ‘stay at home vacation’ is becoming just as popular as the travelling overseas.

    “This being the case, our East Londonderry constituency as a strong agricultural region is perfectly placed to develop farm tourism. We have many tourist attractions here in East Londonderry, so Stormont must do more to promote our farm tourism industry. 

   “While the Stormont summer recess is upon us, that does not mean the Stormont Minister and his department cannot put plans in place to boost farm tourism across the Province, especially if a predicted Andy Burnham administration at Westminster wants to devolve more powers to the regions - and that must include the Northern Ireland Assembly. 

   “There must be a real drive to promote the tourist potential of Northern Ireland and East Londonderry in particular.

   “Therefore, it is vitally important that our agricultural sector benefits from any developments, particularly to prevent our Province from being under any future threat from the dreaded bird flu.

   “Given the financial pressures which many farming families now unfortunately are faced with, many of those working in the agricultural sector may see tourism as a method of boosting their income and securing their long-term future in the farming industry.

   “However, if farming tourism is to become a viable financial reality and not a convenient sound bite, then there is a vital need for the Stormont Executive - and especially the Farming Minister - to inject the additional revenue required to keep many farm holdings sustainable.

   “Many agricultural families are seriously considering the need to diversify to keep their farms viable. Farm tourism is one such option given the rich agricultural heritage which East Londonderry can boast about. 

    “With the proper funding invested from Stormont, especially to implement health and safety measures, our farms could become visitor attractions which have the potential to become as popular as the beaches themselves in terms of a day out during the summer.

   “However, underlining our key message to boost farm tourism, the UUP association will always have this appeal - please stay safe when visiting farms; we want you to thoroughly enjoy the experience,” said Mr Carmichael.