With a general election on the horizon, East Anglia's farming leaders have called for the next government to boost their industry's budget to £4bn.

The National Farmers' Union (NFU) has published a "manifesto", entitled Farming for Britain’s Future, aiming to convince parliamentary candidates of the importance of setting policies and budgets which can drive a "buoyant, profitable, and confident" food sector.

It also released survey results showing 84pc of people think food production targets are at least as important as environmental targets for farming, with 71pc believing farmers don’t get enough credit for keeping food on our shelves.

Charles Hesketh, the NFU's regional policy manager for the East of England, said: "Farmers across the East have faced several very challenging years but we know, as laid out in our manifesto, that we have the public support behind us. 

"All political parties need to take this public support very seriously.  

"What is often apparent in engagement with those who have had little exposure to agriculture is the sheer cost of investment needed in today’s climate. A new tractor for example with attachments could easily get to around £250,000 and if you're fortunate enough to be able to get planning permission a modest new grain store is north of £100,000.   

"This is why a key focus of our manifesto is asking for a budget that underpins food production, the environment, and communities."

At the NFU's national conference in February, prime minister Rishi Sunak reiterated the government’s commitment to maintain support for English farming at pre-Brexit levels of £2.4bn per year.

But Mr Hesketh said modelling by the Andersons Centre had indicated that an annual budget of £4bn would be needed to meet the government’s agricultural ambitions for 2025-2030. 

"This sounds like a lot, and it is," he said. "But some of the things British farmers are expected to deliver in the coming years include habitat creation and restoration, woodland creation, agroforestry growth, reduction of ammonia emissions, pollution reduction, enhanced soil management and that’s just for the environment -  let’s not forget farming’s core purpose, which is producing food.

"It is vital that all parties engage with the farming community and build into their own manifesto commitments to a budget to keep farmers farming. 

"Again, we know the public want this, and steps such as ensuring more food in our schools and hospitals comes from British farmers, ensuring British farmers are treated fairly by supply chains and a real long-term food production plan and accompanying budget might just give farmers the confidence they need, now more than ever."