Agriculture and rural development like husband and wife, says commissioner

A STRONG couple who should stay together under the same policy roof was how European Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel described agriculture and rural development at a conference in Cyprus.

“If we see agriculture and rural development as a “husband and wife” team, it’s true that the “man” of the household (in other words, agriculture) is still the dominant figure in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Of course, in saying this, I’m taking quite a conservative approach to domestic relationships.

“But in any case, the wife now influences his decisions more and more, and for the last few years she’s been making her own distinct voice heard, while carrying out projects of her own,” she said.