IT'S an understatement to say farmers have had a difficult time in the past few years with the ravages of foot and mouth and mad cow disease.

Add to that the complexities of EEC subsidies and regulations and the stranglehold big supermarkets have on the food market and it is not hard to see why so many farmers have gone to the wall.

Today we hear a plea from a man, who believes he is the last remaining pig farmer in the Ribble Valley, that his industry is on the verge of collapse in the county.

When he began, Phillip Edge was one of 250 pig farmers in Lancashire compared to the present total of 35. He used to have 1,800 pigs but his herd is now down to 500.

He blames the plight of himself and others on a combination of factors including new layers of EU regulations, restrictions on pig feed, the import of cheap pig products from abroad - particularly by supermarkets - and stagnant consumer demand.

Pressure can be applied to remedy unfair economic decisions but the answer to the industry's problems isn't wholly in the hands of politicians.

Quite simply it lies with us as consumers. If we want to see pig farming flourish, we must make sure we buy locally produced pork - and plenty of it.

This may well mean insisting that our supermarkets and butchers stock it - if we say we will only buy local produce they will have no choice but to meet the demand and provide it.

The alternative is that we go to the increasing number of farmers' markets or farm shops which exist to sell local products to local people.

A 'buy local' movement will not develop, however, without real work by the farmers themselves to persuade people to change their habits.

The initiative by Ribble Valley Farmers who are marketing Bowland Fresh Milk is proving to be a great success. Pig farmers must now do the same to ensure their survival.