Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (United Kingdom) facts for kids
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) was a special department of the UK government. It was created in 1889 to look after farming. Over time, its name changed. First, it was the Board of Agriculture. Then, it added "Fisheries" in 1903. In 1919, it became the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Finally, in 1955, it added "Food" to its name. This was because it also started looking after the British food industry.
MAFF was in charge of both making food and making sure it was safe. Some people thought this was a problem. MAFF faced criticism for how it handled the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) outbreak. It was also criticised for the foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2001.
In 2001, MAFF joined with parts of another department. They formed a new government department called the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). MAFF officially closed down on March 27, 2002.
Contents
How MAFF Started
The Board of Agriculture, which later became MAFF, began in 1889. But there was an even older group called the Board of Agriculture. It was started in 1793 to help improve farming. This first group was a private society, not a government department. It shared useful farming tips.
Before MAFF, there were other smaller groups. One was the Tithe Commission, set up in 1841. It dealt with land matters. Another was the Cattle Plague Department. This group was created in 1865 to handle a cattle disease outbreak. These groups later became part of the new Board of Agriculture in 1889.
The Board of Agriculture Act of 1889
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | An Act for establishing a Board of Agriculture for Great Britain. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 52 & 53 Vict. c. 30 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 12 August 1889 |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Text of the Board of Agriculture Act 1889 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk | |
The Board of Agriculture Act 1889 was passed on August 12. This law created the Board of Agriculture. It brought together all government tasks related to farming into one department. The first leader of this new Board was Henry Chaplin. It started with 90 staff members.
In 1890, the Board took over the Ordnance Survey, which makes maps. In 1903, it also became responsible for the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. Also in 1903, a new law added fishing industry duties to the Board. This is when it became the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries.
By 1914, Britain was getting most of its food from other countries. Only one-third of the food needed was grown at home.
Food During the First World War
The First World War started on August 4, 1914. For the first two years, there were no food shortages. This was thanks to good harvests and steady imports. But in 1916, things got worse. Crops failed, and it was harder to get food from abroad.
To help, Rowland Prothero became the head of the Board of Agriculture. His goal was to boost food production. In December 1916, a new department called the Ministry of Food was created. Its job was to control food supply and encourage more food production.
The Board of Agriculture also set up a Food Production Department in 1917. This department helped farmers get what they needed. This included workers, animal feed, fertiliser, and machines. Getting enough workers was hard because many men joined the army. But the army helped by letting some men return to farms for planting and harvesting. In 1917, the Women's Land Army was also created. Women joined to work on farms and replace the men who went to war.
The Corn Production Act 1917 was an important law. It promised farmers minimum prices for wheat and oats. It also set a minimum wage for farm workers. This helped farmers and workers feel more secure. The main goal was to grow more food in Britain. This would make the country less dependent on imported food.
By 1918, the government controlled almost all food. The Ministry of Food bought all important food supplies. It also set prices. Rationing began in early 1918 for meat, sugar, and butter. This meant people could only buy a certain amount of these foods. The Ministry even controlled flour mills. It decided the shape and weight of bread. These rules helped save a lot of wheat. After the war ended in November 1918, the Ministry of Food slowly closed down.
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of 1919
| Act of Parliament | |
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The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Act 1919 changed the Board into the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. This new Ministry took over all the Board's duties. It also took on the remaining tasks of the wartime Food Production Department. After the war, farm prices went up. The Agriculture Act 1920 tried to keep prices stable for wheat and oats.
However, in the early 1920s, prices fell sharply. The government stopped guaranteeing prices. Farm sizes also shrank. The amount of land used for farming in Britain dropped a lot.
During this time, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries stayed a small department. It focused on controlling pests and diseases. It also supported farming research and education. Its work slowly grew over the years.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s, the government started new ways to help farmers. They offered money or price support for sugar beet, wheat, and other products. The Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marketing) Act 1928 helped make food quality consistent. It introduced the "National Mark" for good quality British food. New laws in 1931 and 1933 helped farmers work together to sell their products. They created Marketing Boards for things like milk and potatoes.
The Import Duties Act 1932 added taxes on imported fruits and vegetables. It also limited how much bacon and meat could be imported. These steps aimed to support British farmers. In 1937, a plan was started to help farmers add lime to their land. This made the soil more fertile. As another war approached, a Food (Defence Plans) Department was set up in 1937. It became the Ministry of Food when the war began in 1939.
Food During the Second World War
The Second World War started on September 3, 1939. Britain was ready to keep food supplies going. But less than 40% of the country's food was grown at home. The Ministry of Food was formed on September 8. It became the only buyer and importer of food. It also controlled food prices. This guaranteed farmers prices for their crops.
The Women's Land Army started recruiting again. In 1940, food rationing was brought back. This meant people could only buy a limited amount of certain foods. In 1941, the US Lend-Lease Act helped. Under this act, food and farm equipment were sent from the US to the UK. This was a big help for Britain's food supply during the war.
After the Wars
In 1955, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries joined with the Ministry of Food. This created the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF). This is the name it kept until it closed down in 2002.
See also
- Forestry Commission
- Lobbying in the United Kingdom
- Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
- Sir John Sinclair, 1st Baronet
- Arthur Young
