22 April 2020

The West Sussex Growers' Association (WSGA) highlights the key issues for the Horticulture Industry, in light of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The most important thing for everyone in the Horticulture Industry is that we all do the right thing and stay safe. However, there are several issues for the Horticulture Industry which need to be addressed - as outlined below:

 

 

Financial Support - Speed is of the Essence

 

  • CIBILS - Repayment Terms - Due to the devastating financial impact on many horticultural businesses, repayment terms for loans should be extended to 10 years from the current 6 years. It would also assist if the first year could be free of both capital and interest payments.

 

  • Payment Holidays - These should be requested from all lenders, including those with leasing firms.

 

 

Compensation Scheme & the re-opening of Garden Centres

 

  • As soon as is practically possible, Garden Centres should be reopened. It is believed that adequate social distancing procedures can be sensibly managed at Garden Centres. And they have already reopened in most European countries.

 

  • The NFU & HTA have put forward proposals to Defra for a Perishable Goods Compensation Scheme. This would be particularly helpful to the hard-pressed ornamental sector of horticulture.

 

  • Additional Financial Support - The Dutch Government has already provided massive additional financial support for its Horticulture Industry, to the tune of €600 million. If UK growers do not receive the support to survive, the level of plant imports will increase from this summer.

 

 

Staff, Key Workers & Agencies

 

  • Horticultural work should continue - The Government has stated that if you can't do your job from home you can go to work, as long as social distancing is practised. This means that horticultural jobs such as food production, packhouse operations and care of plants (watering & maintenance of crops) should continue.

 

  • Furloughed workers could be employed to cover job shortages in the horticultural industry - Furloughed workers are eligible to work for other businesses whilst furloughed by their employer.

 

  • Measures to be considered for the wellbeing and care of staff - Great care needs to be taken where car and mini-bus sharing is taking place between staff. Also, additional care measures need to be taken where staff are living in shared caravans and caravan sites and/or using canteens and other shared facilities.

 

  • Social Distancing of staff must still be practised - Businesses must take particular care to maintain social distancing and all other health and safety precautions for staff working in confined spaces, such as: packhouses where grading, processing & packing lines are in use.

 

  • West Sussex Growers' Association is also operating a "Worker Availability" service - People looking for work can leave their contact details and we will endeavour to link them to horticultural businesses in the area with vacancies. This service is also being promoted through West Sussex County Council. Visit the WSGA website for more information.

 

  • A "Pick for Britain" campaign is being launched by Defra, NFU, AHDB, ALP & British Growers.

 

 

Supply Chain & Logistics

 

  • Ornamentals - Sales of garden and bedding plants from commercial growers to Garden Centres and the sheds are vastly reduced and most nurseries are running on skeleton staff.

 

  • Edibles - Sales are holding up fairly well, but daily orders from key customers are extremely volatile due to disruption to the supply chain. Transport costs are rising rapidly, especially from Spain.

 

  • Online and home delivery operations are increasing across the board; but compared to normal volume supplies to supermarkets, sheds and Garden Centres, these numbers are very small. Please use Google to find nurseries that can deliver in your area.

 

 

View the full update online here.

 

John Hall, MBA MI Hort

West Sussex Growers' Association

 

The West Sussex Growers' Association (WSGA) is a specialist horticultural branch of the National Farmers' Union. The membership is made up of those around the West Sussex area who have a strong interest in horticulture. These can be large businesses or individual consultants who are involved in the land-based industry. The W.S.G.A. works for the benefit of it's members and the sector on key issues and is able to support individual members on specific needs.

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