Crofting future threatened as young desert the land

Published on Monday 17 December 2007 21:09

THE future of crofting is under threat because it is too expensive and not enough young people are interested in taking over their family crofts.

While house prices rise in rural areas, crofters are earning an average of 21,000 a year with just 30 per cent coming from agriculture, according to a survey for the Committee of Inquiry into Crofting published today.

Most crofters believe young people are key to the future of the industry but, while there is still demand, the figures do not add up for young people.

The committee of inquiry, led by Professor Mark Shucksmith, was set up last year to examine how crofting can best contribute to the economy, social infrastructure and environment of rural Scotland. It is due to report next year.

It was established following criticism of the Crofting Reform Bill, which the then Scottish Executive was forced to change substantially. The survey interviewed 1,047 people in the seven crofting counties, including 587 crofters. It highlighted a number of issues central to crofting's future, including affordable housing and employment, access to existing crofts, improved economic returns from crofting and better grant schemes.

The report says: "The most significant perceived threat to crofting is that agricultural activities are becoming too expensive. The second most significant threat is from children not taking on their family's crofts."

In all, 96 per cent identified young crofters as the most important aspect of a thriving crofting community. But 88 per cent say housing is unaffordable for young people in their area.

The survey also reinforces the commonly held view that market forces should not come into crofting, with 66 per cent saying crofts should not be sold to the highest bidder, although 24 per cent said they should.

The situation was highlighted recently after two crofts on land in Sutherland owned by the Harrod's owner Mohamed al-Fayed were sold for up to five times the amount they were bought for. Prof Shucksmith said: "Young people are vital to crofting's future and we will be examining ways to encourage and support their interest and involvement, and making recommendations on how to make this happen.

"For example, the sale or transfer of crofts has been identified as one area which presents difficulty for new entrants."

There are 17,827 crofts in the Highlands and Islands, with an average size of 27 acres. The concentration varies from the Western Isles, where crofts make up half the number of households, to Badenoch and Strathspey, where they represent just 1 per cent of households. The survey reveals most people consider crofting contributes to maintaining population in remote areas and to a rich culture: 12 per cent of non-crofters interviewed want to become crofters and 17 per cent have applied to enter the industry.

Eighty per cent of interviewees said crofters are guardians of the environment and 69 per cent think they should be paid for that role.

Eight per cent of crofters live in community-owned estates, with 33 per cent saying it has been of benefit, giving them control of land and has removed a major obstacle to development. But 25 per cent disagreed, citing the main reasons as animosity and splits in the community.

While 41 per cent feel the Crofters Commission is ineffective in regulation, over 70 per cent say it should still be the industry regulatory body.