FARMERS in Wales need a "strong support package" to help them survive the coronavirus pandemic, a senior Welsh Conservative has said.

Former leader of the Welsh Conservatives Andrew RT Davies has written to first minister Mark Drakeford asking him to personally intervene and ensure measures are in place to help the country's farmers.

In his letter to Mr Drakeford, Mr Davies called on the Welsh Government to explore reactivating closed sites to ensure Welsh produce is not going to waste, following reports of produce not being collected.collection.

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Mr Davies has also reiterated his calls to the Welsh Government to abandon its plans to introduce new agricultural pollution regulations, after a draft version was published this week.

Commenting on the letter, Mr Davies, said: “The time has come for the first minister to personally intervene and ensure support measures for farmers is made a priority within the ministries that are responsible for making it happen in Welsh Government.

“We’re a month into this crisis and farmers are still in the dark as to what support they might receive and that’s simply unacceptable, with prices plummeting and produce wasted.

“Sadly, the minister appears unable to drive solutions forward at pace and that’s very concerning, whilst she’s inexplicably allowing the energies of officials in her department to be used in this crisis on bringing forward regulations which the government’s own regulator have said will make water quality worse. It’s bonkers.

“The agricultural industry in Wales is suffering like every other and it’s imperative that a comprehensive support package is brought forward within the next seven days.”