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| Youngsters 'are key' to crofting | Youngsters 'are key' to crofting |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Encouraging more young people to become crofters is vital if the traditional way of life is to survive, a new report has found. | Encouraging more young people to become crofters is vital if the traditional way of life is to survive, a new report has found. |
| The Committee of Inquiry on Crofting survey highlighted children not taking on family crofts as one of the biggest threats to industry's future. | The Committee of Inquiry on Crofting survey highlighted children not taking on family crofts as one of the biggest threats to industry's future. |
| A quarter of respondents were unsure if crofting would continue to be viable. | A quarter of respondents were unsure if crofting would continue to be viable. |
| The report came as the Scottish Government announced a consultation on plans to extend crofting areas. | |
| The study questioned 2,000 crofters and non-crofters. | |
| Entitled The Survey of Rural Development and Crofting, it revealed that 96% of those questioned identified young crofters as the most important aspect of a thriving crofting community. | |
| The sale or transfer of crofts has been identified as one area which presents difficulty for new entrants Professor Mark ShucksmithCommittee chairman Reversing the brain-drain | The sale or transfer of crofts has been identified as one area which presents difficulty for new entrants Professor Mark ShucksmithCommittee chairman Reversing the brain-drain |
| Other major threats to crofting's future were identified as the increasing cost of agricultural activities and sustainability of livestock farming, most likely because 78% of crofters undertake livestock farming for income generation. | Other major threats to crofting's future were identified as the increasing cost of agricultural activities and sustainability of livestock farming, most likely because 78% of crofters undertake livestock farming for income generation. |
| Other highlighted issues included the need for affordable housing and employment, access to existing crofts, improved economic returns from crofting and better grant schemes. | Other highlighted issues included the need for affordable housing and employment, access to existing crofts, improved economic returns from crofting and better grant schemes. |
| Committee chairman, Professor Mark Shucksmith, said: "Clearly, 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. | Committee chairman, Professor Mark Shucksmith, said: "Clearly, 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. |
| "This will include tackling a number of other issues highlighted in our research, which undoubtedly have an impact. For example, the sale or transfer of crofts has been identified as one area which presents difficulty for new entrants. | "This will include tackling a number of other issues highlighted in our research, which undoubtedly have an impact. For example, the sale or transfer of crofts has been identified as one area which presents difficulty for new entrants. |
| "These issues will be priority areas for the inquiry to address and ensure we develop a vision which meets the needs of crofting communities and ensures crofting remains a valuable part of life in Scotland." | "These issues will be priority areas for the inquiry to address and ensure we develop a vision which meets the needs of crofting communities and ensures crofting remains a valuable part of life in Scotland." |
| 'Rural economies' | |
| The committee was created by the Scottish Government last year, and was tasked with creating a vision for the future of crofting in Scotland. | The committee was created by the Scottish Government last year, and was tasked with creating a vision for the future of crofting in Scotland. |
| Environment Minister Michael Russell said he was seeking views on proposals to extend crofting to areas outside the traditional crofting counties. | |
| Under the proposals, crofting tenure would be extended to include the islands of Arran and Cumbrae and the remaining parts of the Highlands and Islands not currently designated. | |
| Mr Russell said: "The Scottish Government recognises the importance of crofting to rural economies and the great potential there is to expand this further across Scotland. | |
| "I would urge anyone with an interest in crofting who wishes to have their say to respond to the consultation, in order for their views to be considered in relation to this exciting proposal." |