Crofting federation chairman acknowledges changes to convergence uplift payments

Scottish Crofting Federation (SCF) acknowledges timely and fairer payments of the ‘convergence uplift’ and Less Favoured Areas Support, after a sustained campaign on behalf of crofters.

“The convergence uplift money was clearly intended for crofters and farmers on rough grazing,” said the crofting federation’s chairman Donald MacKinnon. “We have argued this point since the money came to Scotland and it is gratifying to see Scottish Government has acknowledged this with a change in payment proportions in favour of those who ‘earned’ the uplift by historically receiving low agricultural support payments – those of us on the hill and moor.

“Support to the areas that face additional natural constraint is vital for crofters so we welcome the fact that the payments are coming in good time, that the convergence balance has shifted and that the potential deficit in LFASS has been made up. These are all things the federation has been campaigning for on behalf of crofters.”

Mr MacKinnon added: “Now we need to see the support mechanisms for the constrained areas be redesigned to reflect the importance of High Nature Value (HNV) land management. Most of Scotland’s HNV regions are to be found where crofting and upland grazing take place, areas that provide public goods despite facing natural constraints. We want to see public money being used to pay for these public goods.”

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