HOW crofting is supported now and in the future is the subject of new research announced this week by the Crofting Commission, which will analyse the current situation while examining the feasibility of creating new forms of financial support for the sector.

The research is intended to enable the Commission to contribute more informed thinking to the discussions, led by the Scottish Government and its national council of rural advisers about possible support structures post-Brexit, and is being undertaken by Gwyn Jones, a director of the European Forum on nature conservation and pastoralism. Mr Jones has almost 20 years of experience as an agricultural advisor in the Highlands and Islands.

Welcoming the research, Crofting Commission convener, Rod Mackenzie, said: “As well as being the crofting regulator, the Commission’s role includes promoting the interests of crofting. We are aware of how important agriculture support is for the future of crofting, and believe it is vital that the debate about future support systems takes account of the particular challenges faced by crofters.

“More qualitative evidence is needed to help construct appropriate support for the future and that is why we have commissioned this research. Mr Jones has already carried out research on common grazings so has a good working knowledge of the crofting system. The research will be completed by the end of June so we look forward to seeing his findings.”

While primarily a regulatory body, the CC said that it recognised that the crofting system could not simply operate by enforcement of regulations alone: "There is awareness that support mechanisms are important to the future of the crofting system and it is vital that these deliver to best effect, thereby making it more feasible for the Commission to deliver its regulatory responsibilities."

Welcoming the announcement, the chair of the Scottish Crofting Federation Russell Smith said: “We are pleased to see the Commission take on the research expertise of Gwyn Jones, someone we have worked with and who is recognised as a very thorough and capable consultant.

“We anticipate that the research findings will be very revealing of the lack of support coming to crofting," said Mr Smith. “If Scottish Government really do want the continuation of this unique and valuable system they will have to act on the findings.

“This along with the recently announced assessors panel paves the way for the Commission to take a more active role in crofting development, with the potential for new crofting law to return this as a specific part of the remit of the Commission, as is appropriate."

Mr Smith said that SCF was looking forward to working with the assessors and with Mr Jones to fulfil their mutual commitment to a positive future for crofting.

“Support mechanisms to crofting are essential," he said. "Crofting provides many public goods such as landscape and habitat management, provides a basis on which to thrive in remote areas and thereby contributes to the resilience of rural communities.

“However, crofting needs payment for public goods as, by definition, the market does not provide this," he argued. “We have highlighted the lack of support to crofting and, with the Commission, produced a detailed proposal for a crofting component of the Scottish Rural Development Programme in 2014. Unfortunately this was not taken up by Scottish Government.”