130 workers from outside the EU will be allowed to work on Jersey farms following a change to immigration policy.

The Home Affairs Minister has agreed to issue the work permits to address an labour shortage ahead of the potato planting season

Farming Union the JFU made the request earlier this year, warning that a lack of workers was plunging the industry into crisis.

Constable Len Norman has agreed to relax immigration rules and make 130 seasonal permits available to agriculture.

“Unless we act now, the consequences will be the loss of contracts and established growers having to close down. This would be damaging for a traditional island industry that is important to us both economically and culturally. It is vital that government provides support to business wherever possible, and I hope to have done so on this occasion.”

It means farmers and growers will be able to employ workers from the likes of Ukraine and African countries for up to seven months.

It follows a similar pilot project in the UK, and will be reviewed within 2 years.