The Manx National Farmers Union (MNFU) is standing by its report into the impact of freight costs on Manx agriculture.
MNFU says that the calculations in the commissioned report credibly rely on the standard rates published by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (IOMSPC), along with standard rates for other ferry services for comparison, which are generally available and accessible.
Steam Packet Managing Director Brian Thomson has disputed the figures saying he ‘doesn’t recognise the figures’ within the report.
The report, which was supported by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA), provided core agricultural data including industry invoices.
Freight Costs
Burnie Consultancy’s report includes comparisons with the arrangements of other jurisdictions and countries, identifying analogous challenges and risks alongside potential solutions to our strategy on imports and exports.
In a statement, MNFU says, ‘It is generally understood that the Islands agricultural sector is exposed to significantly higher input costs than its UK counterparts, and receives a lower return.
‘Current costs of production and lack of profitable routes to market exacerbate and contribute to a reduction in investment and resilience in the sector.’
MNFU
MNFU says it recognises and respects the IOMSPC for it’s ‘reliable and consistent service’, and the Union welcomes the Company to ‘challenge the calculations but any challenge must provide actual fare data’.
It says that such information would be a beneficial contribution to ongoing dialogue with the IOMSPC, but ‘these contributions cannot be of value if they are just vague suggestion’.
Agricultural Industry
The Union calls upon the Isle of Man Government to revisit the current status quo regarding costs, and hope the report gives the opportunity to create a more economically virtuous circle for agriculture.
MNFU has welcomed the IOM Government’s response to the report, which it says ‘has been one of being open to further dialogue’.
Although DEFA supported the report, the department had no influence or involvement over any of the analysis, content and conclusions of the report.
Steam Packet Company
Brian Thomson told Manx Radio that ‘the company has contacted the author’ of the report to connect the figures but the company hadn’t had a response.
Thomson states that ‘categorically no farmers’ have approached him or the freight manager about exporting goods.
He says that ‘the Steam Packet is here to help’ in the exporting of goods from the Island.
Manx.News have invited the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company for an interview.
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