Welcome to the Rural Business Association website. We very much hope that you find it a useful tool. For our part we hope it will lead to the better dissemination of information, the creation of debate, the airing of views and a better understanding of the issues concerning the rural community at any given time.
Please don't hesitate to approach us with ideas on how this site may grow and evolve. In the meantime pleasant surfing.
Paul Robertson, Chairman
January 2004
The history of the RBA
Traditionally the landowners of the Falkland Islands were represented by an organisation known as the Sheep Owners Association (SOA).
in the 1980s when the large farms were sub-divided into smaller units the Sheepowners Association continued its traditional role of negotiating with the General Employees Union (GEU) for the employers, but did not attract many new members. It was decided that a new organisation was required to represent the small independent farms.
The Farmers Association was launched in July 1988, and the following year all farmers were invited to attend meetings and decide if they wished to join. A grant of £10,000 from FIDC funded the setting-up of the office in Stanley, but after that the Association existed solely on subscriptions from members until 1999 when assistance was again sought from FIDC.
Annual membership rates were, and still are, £100 for a farm or business and recently we introduced a donation fee of £20 for individuals who are able to receive all information but not vote at meetings or stand on the Committee.
The aim of the Association has been to act as the representative body of the farming and other businesses in the rural community that can lobby the Government or other organisations on issues that directly affect the farmer. The Association has representatives on the various Committees and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Falkland Islands Tourism. The Association has now taken over the role of negotiating rates and conditions for contract shearing from SOA.
There are 86 farms of which 52 are members plus another 6 rural businesses and 5 individual members with an interest in the rural community. There are those that will never join, possibly because their main income is not from farming, but if the Association was to become more active in other aspects it may encourage a wider membership. Inevitably the activities of the Association benefit non-members too.
At present the majority of members only get to meet once a year (in July) for discussions amongst themselves and with other individuals and organisations. The Committee of nine meet three or four times throughout the year, mainly when issues demand it. The main restriction in not meeting more often is the lack of funds. The annual income from subscriptions is approximately £6,000 with costs averaging £7,000 even with restricted activities. For the last few years we have enjoyed an additional sum of money on a monthly basis from Eurofishing for which we are very grateful as it pays for the part time secretary to keep the office running.
Most of the year the office is very quiet until a crisis hits and everyone needs help. The Association can only be as effective as you the members make it. What do you want out of the Association and how can you help that happen?