The Women’s Institute has added its support to farmers protesting against processors and retailers which they claim are trapping them in an unsustainable supply chain. The WI, which has previously backed other celebrated campaigns by farmers, has called on retailers, caterers and the rest of the food sector to ensure they pay a fair price for milk.

The news comes as leaders from across the dairy supply chain meet with farming minister Jim Paice to work on creating a code of practice for the supply chain. However, farmers have demanded that processors rescind all cuts inflicted since April, which they say have driven ex-farm milk prices 5 pence per litre below the cost of production in some cases.

Members of the WI today stood with farmers demonstrating outside the Asda stand at the Royal Welsh show; Asda has been featured in a ‘name and shame’ campaign launched by farming unions and its stalls have been picketed at other country shows around the UK.

Marylyn Haines-Evans, chair of the National Federation of Women’s Institute’s public affairs committee, commented today, “We are calling on all WI members – and the general public – to get behind our farmers, and we encourage members to ask retailers to step up to the challenge and take responsibility for dairy farmer suppliers. All parts of the supply chain, retailers as well as processors, have responsibilities here so we are asking everyone to shop with those retailers that we know are doing the right thing by British farmers and encourage others to engage in dialogue to stress this is a major issue for British consumers.”

Farmers have also demanded changes to contracts, which allow processors to change prices at 24 hours notice but in some cases bind require farmers to give 12 months’ notice of their intention to switch buyers. Industry representatives have said breakout clauses are integral to the creation of a more egalitarian supply chain. Ms Haines-Evans added, “Processors and supermarkets have held too much of the bargaining power for too long and action is needed to shake the supply chain out of the complacency that is defining the marketplace and readdress the balance.”

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