Number of farmers halved in 20 years

Farm in Øystre Slidre in Valdres.1984: Bondegård i Øystre Slidre i Valdres. Photo. NTB Erik Thorberg / SCANPIX

 

The number of farmers in Hordaland is almost halved during the past 20 years. The worst-hit sectors are dairy farmers, who are  70 percent fewer.

In the 1970s, Bergen was one of the largest agricultural producers in Hordalan,d today there are only twelve milk producers left in the municipality.

– This is a sad development, especially considering that the self-sufficiency level in Norway is below 40 percent, says the manager of Bergen Farmers Union, Bodil Fjelltveit.

Both in Hordaland and in  total in the country, the number of farmers has decreased by 25 percent over the last decade.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today