Farmer Gareth Wyn Jones has demanded a "farm food revolution" as a staggering new study has found a stark number of workers fearing financial collapse.
Speaking to GB News, Mr Wyn Jones told Breakfast hosts Ellie Costello and Stephen Dixon that farmers are being placed in a "stranglehold" by suppliers and supermarkets.
In new polling by Riverford, seven in 10 farmers have said making a living through farming has "never been harder".
Six in 10 farmers also feel the buying relationship between growers and retailers has "worsened" over the last two years.
Gareth Wyn Jones has demanded a 'farm food revolution' as a stark new study exposes fears of financial collapse
|GB NEWS
Reacting to the survey's findings, Mr Wyn Jones told GB News: "Well, we've known this for many, many years, that the procurers, the supermarkets, they've got a stranglehold on the agricultural sector.
"I've got farming friends that are afraid to even challenge their contracts with the processors, afraid of losing their businesses."
Highlighting the fear among farmers in the current economic climate, he added: "From milk to growing veg, all these people are scared.
"We hear about fair trade across the world - fair trade for coffee producers, fair trade for banana growers, fair trade for cotton producers - where's the fair trade for British farmers that are producing top quality food to feed the nation in a sustainable and healthy way?"
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70 per cent of farmers have said making a living through farming has 'never been harder' | PAAccusing supermarkets of "taking all profit" from farmers, Mr Wyn Jones said: "These supermarkets are literally taking off not just the cream, they're taking all the profit and keeping the farmer downtrodden."
Claiming that many farmers are now going "bankrupt" and tragically "taking their lives" following Labour's Family Farms Tax in last year's Budget, he explained: "As an industry, we need to always reinvest into our businesses, and as things are now, there's so many people getting out of the job.
"There's so many people going bankrupt, and there's so many people that are suffering with mental health, and suicide is at the highest it's ever been."
He added: "We've got inheritance tax, we've got TB, we've got NVZ's (Nitrate Vulnerable Zone) in Wales, we've got the SFS, which is the sustainable so-called farming scheme or suicidal farming scheme, whatever you want to look at it. There are massive pressures on the industry."
Mr Wyn Jones told GB News that farmers are going 'bankrupt' and 'taking their own lives'
|GB NEWS
Calling for a "revolution" in the agricultural industry, Mr Wyn Jones concluded: "We need to build back a better Britain on our bellies and it has to start with the farmers.
"We need a farming food revolution and it needs to happen as soon as possible."
Previewing her Budget on November 26, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: "Later this month, I will deliver my second Budget as Chancellor of the Exchequer.
"At that Budget, I will make the choices necessary to deliver strong foundations for our economy."
Anyone who is in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide can call the Samaritans anonymously for free from a UK phone on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org.