CORNISH farmers are to stage a rally to support farming and raise concerns about food security.
The event, organised by Farmers Movement Cornwall, will see members of the public join in to highlight the country's reliance on imports for agricultural inputs and the potential risk of food shortages.
This comes as thousands of farmers are set to march in London to protest against the Government's inheritance tax plans for farmers.
The rally vehicles will assemble at Truro Livestock Market at midday on Saturday, November 23.
They will then proceed down to Trafalgar Roundabout, turning right into St Austell Street.
Peter Lawrence, a farmer and part of Farmers Movement Cornwall, said: "We now only produce around half of what we eat however, we are also reliant on imports for many of the inputs required for agriculture such as fertiliser, replacement herds and feedstuffs."
He added that 'consecutive governments have waged a slow campaign of checkmate by attrition on British farming' and that there has been a lack of 'support, funding and respect'.
"The recent proposed changes to the rules surrounding inheritance tax are just the straw that broke the camel's back," Peter said.
He added that the tax will 'not only have a profound economic consequence to farmers but consequences to the nation'.
Many farmers have stated that they will go on strike and stop food production to give ministers a taste of what it would be like if the UK food-producing sector were no longer operating.
This has raised concerns about empty supermarket shelves during this winter.
The farmers taking part in the rally in Truro have assured that they will not block any public vehicles or buses and will give way to any emergency vehicles.
There will be crowd marshals from the Farmers' Movement for Change to ensure that traffic can flow freely at all times.
The rally is expected to reach Victoria Square by 12.30pm.
Participants are encouraged to bring flags, placards, and yellow boards.
A couple of speeches will be given on Victoria Square after the rally, after which participants are invited to a local pub for a drink.
Peter added: "Town and country must unite to defeat this attack and we begin with a rally of support for farming and food security in Truro."
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