Norwegian fur farmers denounced Tuesday a government proposal to slash
financial support to the controversial industry and warned that it could
lead to farm closures in vulnerable rural areas.

The Norwegian government has proposed to cut 17.8 million kroner (2.35
million dollars, 2.1 million euros) in agricultural subsidies to the
farmers, accounting for more than half of total state aid to the
industry.

“If it is maintained, this proposal is very badly thought out,” Guri
Wormdahl, spokeswoman for the Norwegian Fur Breeders’ Association told AFP.
According to the group, Norway’s 280 fox and mink fur farms have a turnover
of more than a million kroner each and create jobs and economic growth in
some of the country’s most far-flung regions.

Cutting subsidies would threaten “about half of the farms”, Wormdahl said,
adding that the government gets good value at just 100,000 kroner (12,000
euros, 13,200 dollars) in subsidies per farm.

“This will mean fewer nurseries and hospices in rural districts. It’s a
policy that takes a short-term view,” she said. Animal rights groups
critical of the conditions of animals in fur farms welcomed the proposal,
which is up for negotiation with Norway’s agricultural trade groups.

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“Fur farms are presented as the most profitable farming sector but they
still demand tens of millions of kroner in special aid,” said Live
Kleveland from the Norwegian Society for Protection of Animals in a
statement, adding that the vast majority of furs are exported.

“Sixty-eight percent of the population want to dismantle fur farms and most
likely do not want their taxes going to this controversial sector.”
(AFP)