Hundreds of millions of euros must be put into keeping the outlying area safe, as it is to ZLTO director Hendrik Hoeksma. Undermining is lurking, according to a study published this week by various farmers’ organizations.
Three farmers’ organizations, LTO Noord, the southern and horticultural Organization Netherlands (ZLTO) and the Safe Ondernemen Platform Brabant Zeeland investigated how often farmers have to deal with criminals, such as dubious rental proposals by drug producers or the theft of valuable machines.
This joint investigation shows that 61 percent of entrepreneurs in Brabant and Zeeland were once a victim of burglary or theft. Drug crime also remains a major problem: 70 percent of farmers in Brabant and Zeeland say they know someone with whom an agricultural building has been abused by drug criminals.
The methods of criminals to address farmers and gardeners are refined. A drug lab or hemp farm is often prepared over a long period. Bit by bit the confidence is won, for example by first doing legal things in a rented farm barn.
For example, a farmer is approached by criminals
Guinvere van der Veer is project leader Buitengebied at the Safe Ondernemen Platform and works together with farmers to make the agricultural outlying area safer. She knows harrowing examples about how farmers are often approached.
“Most criminals walk on the yard asking if they can rent a shed. They say that someone from the village has referred them to the farm. At several locations they try to get people gardens in it by saying that they are from a carnival association or do cars. That could explain the weird odors.”
Van der Veer continues: “Some criminals simply find out that they are looking for a location for a hemp farm. They put notes in the letterbox stating how much money the farmers can earn, with a telephone number when there is interest.”
“It also happens that farmers are put under pressure. Threats are being threatened with:” I know where your child goes to school, “says Van der Veer.
Counselors
Vacancy is an extra risk factor: 1 in 5 farmers expects vacancy in their own yard in the coming years. The study shows that 15 percent of farmers already rent out space on their own yard.
According to ZLTO director Hoeksema, there must be a more structured approach to keep the outlying area safe and resilient. According to him, that is possible through more control and rules. According to him, it is also possible by investing in confidants where farmers can report suspicious situations.
Those confidants have now been there as a test for a few years. This appears to work well and every year more farmers use this shows that the aforementioned research mentioned. The farmers’ organizations therefore hope that those confidants will remain and do not stop as soon as the test is over.
