Written evidence submitted by the Welsh Language Commissioner (HIL0010)
(English version below)
Ymholiad: Effeithiau economaidd a diwylliannol polisi masnach ac amgylcheddol ar ffermydd teuluol yng Nghymru. Tystiolaeth Comisiynydd y Gymraeg
Cefndir a chyflwyniad i Gomisiynydd y Gymraeg
Swyddogaeth Comisiynydd y Gymraeg yw hybu a hwyluso defnyddio’r Gymraeg. Fe’i sefydlwyd yn 2012 yn sgil cyflwyno Mesur y Gymraeg (Cymru) 2011. Mae’r Comisiynydd yn gweithio tuag at gynyddu defnydd o’r Gymraeg yng nghyswllt darparu gwasanaethau a chynyddu cyfleoedd eraill i bobl ddefnyddio’r Gymraeg. Mae’n rhoi sylw i statws swyddogol y Gymraeg yng Nghymru a’r egwyddor y dylai pobl yng Nghymru allu byw eu bywydau trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg os ydynt yn dymuno gwneud hynny. Gall y Comisiynydd roi cyngor i unrhyw berson, ac mae’n ymateb i’r ymholiad hwn oherwydd pwysigrwydd y gymuned ffermio yng Nghymru i hyfywedd y Gymraeg. Pryder y Comisiynydd yw y gall nifer o’r heriau sy’n wynebu ffermydd teuluol yng Nghymru beryglu hyfywedd y Gymraeg mewn nifer o gymunedau sy’n ddibynnol ar amaeth. Rydym yn ymateb i’r cwestiynau a ofynnwyd gennych isod:
Mae ffermydd teuluol yn ganolog i’r economi wledig, i ddiwylliant Cymru ac i hyfywedd y Gymraeg. Mae ffermydd Cymru ar gyfartaledd yn sylweddol lai na ffermydd Lloegr a’r Alban.[1] Yn ôl ffigurau’r Cyfrifiad Cenedlaethol mae 43% o weithwyr amaethyddol yn siarad Cymraeg, o gymharu â 19% o'r boblogaeth yn gyffredinol. Dyma’r sector cyflogaeth â’r gyfran uchaf o siaradwyr Cymraeg.[2] Mae busnesau amaethyddol yn cynnal llawer o gymunedau gwledig lle mae’r Gymraeg yn iaith naturiol bob dydd.
Ein pryder yw y bydd nifer o’r heriau sy’n wynebu ffermydd teuluol a chymunedau ffermio’n fwy cyffredinol yng Nghymru yn peryglu hyfywedd y Gymraeg mewn cymunedau amaethyddol ar draws Cymru. Deallwn bod y prif heriau ar hyn o bryd yn deillio o ymadawiad Prydain â’r Undeb Ewropeaidd (UE). Bu cymorth ariannol yr UE yn gefnogaeth i ffermydd Cymru ac mae’r ansicrwydd sy’n gysylltiedig â sefydlu cyfundrefnau newydd yn creu pryder i’r gymuned ffermio. Dylid nodi fod incwm cyfartalog ffermydd Cymru yn is nag incwm cyfartalog ffermydd yr Alban a Lloegr.[3] Gallai cyfundrefnau gwahanol o fewn y Deyrnas Unedig, yn ogystal â gwahaniaethau rhwng y DU a’r UE, effeithio ar allu ffermwyr i gystadlu. Mae’r Sefydliad Polisi Cyhoeddus i Gymru wedi adnabod risg i allu ffermwyr defaid a chig eidion, yn benodol, i gystadlu yn dilyn Brexit. Oherwydd y bygythiad i ffermwyr defaid, rhagwelir y caiff Brexit effeithiau mwy negyddol ar ogledd a gorllewin Cymru na rhannau eraill o’r wlad.[4] Mae’r rhain yn ardaloedd lle ceir canrannau uchel o siaradwyr Cymraeg: er enghraifft dengys ffigurau Llywodraeth Cymru fod 4 o’r 6 sir uchaf o ran y gyfran sy’n siarad Cymraeg hefyd yn 4 o’r 6 sir uchaf o ran y gyfran sy’n gweithio mewn amaethyddiaeth, coedwigaeth a physgota (sef Gwynedd, Ynys Môn, Ceredigion a Sir Gaerfyrddin)[5]. Ardaloedd yw’r rhain a oedd hefyd yn gymwys ar gyfer cefnogaeth ariannol cronfeydd strwythurol yr Undeb Ewropeaidd.
Mae ffermydd teuluol Cymru yn cefnogi cannoedd ar filoedd o swyddi yn y sector cyflenwi bwyd. Gallai datblygiadau sy’n niweidiol i’r ffermydd gael dylanwad negyddol, yn eu tro, ar gyflogaeth yn gyffredinol mewn mannau gwledig. Mae pryder eisoes ynglŷn â phobl ifanc yn gadael ardaloedd gwledig oherwydd prinder gwaith. Mae pryder hefyd am anallu pobl ifainc i ymsefydlu yn eu hardal leol oherwydd prisiau tai sydd y tu hwnt i’w gafael. Ystyrir bod y farchnad ail gartrefi yn cyfrannu at y sefyllfa hon, sydd yn arwain at ddiboblogi gwledig. Oherwydd y cysylltiad agos rhwng y gymuned ffermio a’r Gymraeg, gallai’r holl heriau hyn fygwth hyfywedd y Gymraeg fel iaith gymunedol mewn nifer o ardaloedd, yn arbennig yng ngogledd a gorllewin Cymru.
Pryder y Comisiynydd yw y bydd goblygiadau posibl cytundebau masnach rydd i ffermwyr yng Nghymru yn effeithio ar ffermydd teuluol a chymunedau ffermio yng Nghymru a thrwy hynny yn peryglu hyfywedd y Gymraeg mewn cymunedau amaethyddol ar draws Cymru. Deallwn y gallai cytundebau heb dariffau na chwotâu olygu bod prisiau cig o Brydain yn gostwng dros amser, gyda safonau uchel cynhyrchu bwyd ym Mhrydain yn ei gwneud yn anodd i ffermwyr gystadlu â chynhyrchwyr o dramor â safonau is. Nid oes sicrwydd y byddai prynwyr yn cefnogi ffermwyr Cymru. Gallai prisiau is fod yn llawer pwysicach na safonau cynhyrchu uwch, yn enwedig i’r cwsmeriaid nad ydynt yn derbyn cyflogau uchel. Ar ben hynny, petai cytundebau masnach rydd yn caniatáu gwerthu bwyd ym Mhrydain a gynhyrchir i safon is, gallai’r UE rwystro allforion o Brydain er mwyn diogelu safonau bwyd yr Undeb. Byddai hyn yn golygu, nid yn unig bod ffermwyr Cymru yn cystadlu â mewnforion cynyddol i’r wlad hon, ond y byddent yn colli mynediad i farchnadoedd gwledydd eraill. Gallasai hyn yn ei dro beryglu bywoliaeth ffermwyr yng Nghymru a thrwy hynny danseilio’r Gymraeg mewn cymunedau ar draws Cymru.
Rydym yn cydnabod bod argyfwng hinsawdd ac yn deall bod angen i’r sector amaeth fel pob sector arall ddatblygu i fod yn fwy cynaliadwy. Fodd bynnag mae’r Comisiynydd yn credu bod risg i hyfywedd y Gymraeg mewn nifer o gymunedau amaethyddol yn deillio o elfennau o’r agenda polisi newid yn yr hinsawdd. Mae cyflwyno polisïau amgylcheddol heb ystyried eu heffaith ar ffermydd teuluol yn creu risg gan fod gan ffermydd teuluol ar y cyfan lai o dir - mae ffermydd Cymru yn dueddol o fod yn fach eu maint mewn cymhariaeth â rhannau eraill o’r DU, yn 45 hectar ar gyfartaledd gyda 54% o ddaliadau Cymru’n llai na 20ha o faint[6]. Mae pryder bod pwysau cynyddol ar ffermwyr i symud at ddatblygu coedwigoedd a darparu gwasanaethau ecosystem. Risg polisi o’r math yw creu diboblogi gwledig trwy newid tir amaethyddol o gynhyrchu bwyd i ddarparu nwyddau amgylcheddol yn unig. Mae pryder hefyd am gwmnïau mawr yn prynu ffermydd i blannu coed er mwyn gwrthbwyso carbon, gan weddnewid cymunedau gwledig. Dyma heriau pellach a allai fygwth hyfywedd y Gymraeg fel iaith gymunedol.
Mae perthynas glos rhwng datblygu’r amgylchedd yn gynaliadwy a gwarchod diwylliant a iaith leiafrifol. Nid mater o’r naill beth neu’r llall ydyw, ac mae’r ddau yn mynd law yn llaw â’i gilydd. Mae nifer o astudiaethau yn cyfeirio at y gydberthynas yma rhwng iaith a datblygu cynaliadwy, er enghraifft “Linguistic diversity of natural UNESCO world heritage sites: bridging the gap between nature and culture”, lle ceir argraffiadau am rôl ieithoedd cynhenid ar gyfer rheoli adnoddau naturiol a datblygu cynaliadwy.
Rydym wedi nodi ein bod y pryderu y bydd nifer o’r heriau sy’n wyneb ffermydd teuluol yn peryglu hyfywedd y Gymraeg mewn cymunedau amaethyddol ar draws Cymru. Yn hyn o beth felly credwn y dylai Llywodraeth y DU sicrhau ei bod yn ystyried effaith ei pholisïau ar y Gymraeg ac anghenion penodol Cymru a’r gwahaniaethau rhwng sector amaethyddol y wlad hon a’r gwledydd datganoledig eraill, yn enwedig Lloegr. Er enghraifft, cyfeiriwyd uchod at faint ac incwm cymharol fach ffermydd Cymru. Nodwn hefyd fod gwahaniaeth sylweddol rhwng safon y tir yng Nghymru a Lloegr. Dengys ystadegau 2018 fod 80% o dir amaethyddol Cymru yn dir a ddynodwyd yn ardal lai ffafriol, tra mai 16% yn unig o dir Lloegr a ddynodwyd felly.[7] Dylid sicrhau bod modd i ffermwyr y gwledydd datganoledig gystadlu â’i gilydd mewn ffordd deg sy’n hyrwyddo masnach a hynny fel y bo modd sicrhau hyfywedd ffermydd teuluol a chymunedau Cymraeg yn eu sgil
O safbwynt busnes a’r Gymraeg fel arf marchnata, ceir cydnabyddiaeth gyffredinol fod y Gymraeg yn gallu cynorthwyo twf busnesau a datblygu cynnyrch arloesol. Yn benodol, ceir tystiolaeth helaeth am werth y Gymraeg at ddibenion hyrwyddo, brandio a marchnata yn y sector gweithgynhyrchu a marchnata bwyd a diod. Canfu ymchwil Comisiynydd y Gymraeg yn 2014[8] bod defnyddio’r Gymraeg yn gwneud i’r cynnyrch sefyll allan; yn atgyfnerthu delwedd brand; yn cynnig cyfleoedd i werthu mewn marchnadoedd newydd; ac yn cael ei gweld fel arwydd o ansawdd. Yn ôl ymchwil diweddarach i agweddau busnesau mawr, bach a chanolig yng Nghymru yn 2018 mae 82% yn cytuno’n gryf neu i raddau fod defnyddio’r Gymraeg yn ychwanegu gwerth at gynnyrch neu wasanaeth; ac mae 84% yn cytuno’n gryf neu i raddau fod defnyddio’r Gymraeg o fudd i frand y busnes[9]. Ategir y casgliadau hyn hefyd gan ganfyddiadau gwaith ymchwil Llywodraeth Cymru. Yn y cyd-destun hwn, ystyrir bod cyfle yn cael ei golli i fanteisio i’r eithaf ar y Gymraeg fel nodwedd unigryw i gynnyrch ffermydd Cymru mewn marchnad gystadleuol. Dylid tynnu sylw, felly, at werth y Gymraeg fel arf marchnata all gynyddu potensial y farchnad, a chefnogi ffermwyr i’w defnyddio.
Dylid casglu data am y Gymraeg o fewn y diwydiant amaeth yng Nghymru er mwyn sicrhau bod modd datblygu polisïau ar sail tystiolaeth gyfredol am sefyllfa’r iaith. Dylid hefyd asesu effaith unrhyw bolisi neu fenter arfaethedig ar y Gymraeg. Dylid cefnogi ffermydd teuluol a mentrau gwledig a chynorthwyo pobl ifainc i aros yn eu hardal leol, os mai dyna eu dymuniad, er mwyn cynnal hyfywedd cymunedau a diogelu’r Gymraeg.. Dylid gweithredu yn unol ag amcanion Deddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau’r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015 a’i nodau llesiant, yn ogystal â strategaeth Cymraeg 2050 Llywodraeth Cymru, sy’n anelu at greu miliwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg erbyn 2050. Er mwyn cyflawni hyn, mae cyfathrebu da rhwng llywodraethau’r DU a Chymru yn allweddol er mwyn sicrhau y bydd polisïau amaeth y dyfodol yn atgyfnerthu sefyllfa ffermydd teuluol, a chymunedau Cymraeg yn sgil hynny.
Inquiry: The economic and cultural impacts of trade and environmental policy on family farms in Wales. Evidence from the Welsh Language Commissioner
Background and introduction to the Welsh Language Commissioner
The Welsh Language Commissioner’s role is to promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language. The role was established in 2012 following the introduction of the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011. The Commissioner works towards increasing the use of the Welsh language in relation to the provision of services and increasing other opportunities for people to use the Welsh language. The Commissioner gives attention to the official status of the Welsh language in Wales and the principle that people in Wales should be able to live their lives through the medium of Welsh if they wish to do so. The Commissioner can provide advice to any person, and is responding to this inquiry because of the importance of the farming community in Wales to the viability of the Welsh language. The Commissioner’s concern is that many of the challenges faced by family farms in Wales could endanger the viability of the Welsh language in many communities that depend on agriculture. We answer your questions below.
Family farms are central to the rural economy, to Welsh culture and to the viability of the Welsh language. Welsh farms are significantly smaller on average than farms in England and Scotland[10]. According to National Census figures, 43% of agricultural workers speak Welsh, compared with 19% of the general population. This is the employment sector with the highest proportion of Welsh speakers.[11] Agricultural businesses support many rural communities where Welsh is the everyday language.
Our concern is that many of the challenges faced by family farms and farming communities more generally in Wales will undermine the vitality of the Welsh language in agricultural communities across Wales. We understand that the main challenges faced at present result from Britain's exit from the European Union (EU). EU funding supported Welsh farms and uncertainty around the establishment of new systems is concerning for the farming community. It should be noted that the average income of Welsh farms is lower than the average income of farms in England and Scotland.[12] Different systems within the United Kingdom, as well as differences between the UK and the EU, could affect farmers' ability to compete. The Public Policy Institute for Wales has identified a risk to the ability of sheep and beef farmers, specifically, to compete following Brexit. As a result of the threat to sheep farmers, it is envisaged that Brexit will have more negative effects on north and west Wales compared to other parts of the country.[13] There are areas where there are high percentages of Welsh speakers, for example Welsh Government data shows that4 of the top 6 counties in terms of the proportion of people speaking Welsh are also 4 of the top 6 counties in terms of the proportion of the population employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing (these being Gwynedd, Anglesey, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire)[14] . These were also areas that were eligible for receiving financial support from EU structural funds.
Family farms in Wales support hundreds and thousands of jobs in the food supply sector. Developments that are detrimental to these farms could, in turn, have a negative influence on employment in general in rural areas. There is already concern that young people are leaving rural areas due to a shortage of work. There is also concern that young people are unable to settle in their local area as a result of house prices that are beyond their reach. It is believed that the second homes market is contributing to this situation, which is leading to rural depopulation. Due to the close link between the farming community and the Welsh language, all of these challenges could threaten the viability of the Welsh language as a community language in many areas, particularly in north and west Wales.
The Commissioner is concerned that potential implications of free trade agreements for farmers in Wales could affect family farms and agricultural communities in Wales and in so doing endanger the vitality of the Welsh language I agricultural communities across Wales. We understand that agreements without tariffs or quotas could lead to a drop in the price of British meat over time, with high standards of food production in Britain making it difficult for farmers to compete with their foreign counterparts who produce food to lower standards. There is no certainty that buyers would support Welsh farmers. Lower prices could be far more important than higher production standards, especially to customers who are not on high salaries. In addition, if free trade agreements were to allow the sale of food produced to a lower standard in Britain, the EU could halt exports from Britain in order to protect the Union's food standards. As a result, Welsh farmers would not only be competing with increasing imports to this country, but they would lose access to markets in other countries. This could in turn endanger the livelihoods of farmers in Wales and as a result endanger the Welsh language in communities across Wales.
We recognise that there is a climate crisis and understand that there is a need for the agricultural sector, as all other sectors to become more sustainable. However, the Commissioner believes that there Is a risk to the Welsh language in a number of communities as a result of elements of the climate change policy. Emphasising environmental policies without considering their effect on family farms poses a risk, as family farms generally have less land – the average farm size in Wales is generally small (45 hectares) in comparison to other areas of the United Kingdom and 54% of holdings in Wales are under 20ha in size[15]. There are concerns that farmers are facing increasing pressure to move towards developing forests and providing ecosystem services. The risk with such a policy is that it could lead to rural depopulation as a result of changing agricultural land from food production to the provision of environmental goods only. There are also concerns that large companies are buying farms to plant trees in order to offset carbon, thereby transforming rural communities. These are further challenges that could threaten the viability of the Welsh language as a community language.
There is a close relationship between sustainable environmental development and protecting minority cultures and languages. It is not a case of one or the other, both go hand in hand. A number of studies refer to this relationship between language and sustainable development, for example “Linguistic diversity of natural UNESCO world heritage sites: bridging the gap between nature and culture”, which provides views on the role of indigenous languages in managing natural resources and sustainable development.
We have notes that we are concerned that a number of challenges that face family farms could undermine the vitality of the Welsh language in rural communities across Wales. As a result we believe that the UK Government should ensure that it considers the effects of its policies on the Welsh language and the specific needs of Wales and the differences between the agricultural sector here and in the other devolved nations, especially England. For example, the relatively small size and income of Welsh farms, as noted above. We also note the significant difference between the quality of land in England and Wales. Statistics from 2018 show that 80% of agricultural land in Wales has been designated as less favourable areas, compared with only 16% of land in England. [16] It should be ensured that farmers in the devolved nations are able to compete fairly against each other in a way that promotes trade in order to ensure the vitality of family farms and Welsh communities as a result.
In terms of business and the Welsh language as a marketing tool, there is general recognition that the Welsh language can support business growth and the development of innovative produce. Specifically, there is widespread evidence of the value of the Welsh language in terms of promotion, branding and marketing in the food and drink manufacturing and marketing sector. Research undertaken by the Welsh Language Commissioner in 2014[17] found that the use of the Welsh language makes the product stand out; reinforces brand image; offers opportunities to sell in new markets; and is considered a sign of quality. According to more recent research into the attitudes of small, medium and large-sized businesses in Wales in 2018, 82% strongly agreed or agreed to some extent that the use of the Welsh language adds value to a product or service; and 84% strongly agreed or agreed to some extent that the use of the Welsh language is beneficial to the business' brand[18]. These conclusions are also supported by Welsh Government research findings. In this context, it is considered that an opportunity is being lost to maximise the use of the Welsh language as a unique feature of Welsh farm produce in a competitive market. Therefore, the value of the Welsh language as a marketing tool capable of increasing market potential should be highlighted, and farmers should be supported to use it.
Data should be collected on the Welsh language within the agricultural industry in Wales in order to ensure that policies can be developed based on current evidence regarding the position of the language. The impact of any proposed policy or initiative on the Welsh language should also be assessed. Family farms and rural enterprises should be supported and young people helped to stay in their local area, if they so wish, in order to maintain the viability of communities and protect the Welsh language. Action should be taken in accordance with the objectives of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and its well-being aims, as well as the Welsh Government's Cymraeg 2050 strategy, which aims to create a million Welsh speakers by 2050. In order to achieve this, good communication between the UK and Welsh governments is essential in order to ensure that the agricultural policies of the future support family farms and communities where the Welsh language thrives as a result.
October 2021
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[1] farming-in-wales-web-welsh.pdf (senedd.cymru)
[2] Securing Wales' Future Summary (llyw.cymru)
[3] farming-in-wales-web-welsh.pdf (senedd.cymru)
[4] The-Implications-of-Brexit-for-Agriculture-Rural-Areas-and-Land-Use-in-Wales-1.pdf (wcpp.org.uk)
[5] Securing Wale' Future Summary (llyw.cymru) (2019), t.11
[6] Securing Wales' Future Summary (llyw.cymru) (2019), t.28.
[7] farming-in-wales-web-welsh.pdf (senedd.cymru)
[8] bwyd-a-diod-food-and-drink.pdf (comisiynyddygymraeg.cymru)
[9] defnyddior-gymraeg-yr-achos-busnes.pdf (comisiynyddygymraeg.cymru)
[10] https://senedd.wales/media/m10e2dfw/farming-in-wales-web-english.pdf
[11] Securing Wales' Future Summary (gov.wales)
[12] https://senedd.wales/media/m10e2dfw/farming-in-wales-web-english.pdf
[13] The-Implications-of-Brexit-for-Agriculture-Rural-Areas-and-Land-Use-in-Wales-1.pdf (wcpp.org.uk)
[14] Securing Wales' Future Summary (gov.wales) p.11.
[15] Securing Wales' Future Summary (gov.wales) p. 28.
[16] https://senedd.wales/media/m10e2dfw/farming-in-wales-web-english.pdf
[17] bwyd-a-diod-food-and-drink.pdf (comisiynyddygymraeg.cymru)
[18] using-the-welsh-language-the-business-case.pdf (welshlanguagecommissioner.wales)