The Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014 – 2020 for Northern Ireland has been approved today by the European Commission.
Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill said that the announcement was important for everyone in NI
Five Rural Development Programmes, including Northern Ireland’s, were approved by the European Commission today (Tuesday 25/08/2015) bringing the total of approved schemes so far to 78 out of 118 across the 28 member states.
In Northern Ireland £623 million of funding will now be available various schemes. Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill welcomed the announcement and said that it would provide opportunities for farmers and rural communities.
The Farm Business Improvement scheme will use £220 million of funding and is to include a Capital Investment Scheme, set to commence next year, as well as knowledge transfer initiatives through discussion groups.
Minister O’Neill said: “I expect the first phase of the Farm Business Improvement Scheme to get under way later this year, with the establishment of Business Development Groups for farmers.”
The European Commission state that the RDP will allow almost 20% of NI farms to receive investment to restructure and modernise, 10% of farms and 25% of agri-food businesses will receive support to develop short supply chains and promotional activities and 30,000 places on training courses for farmers and other rural businesses will be created.
£249 million will be used for protecting and enhancing the environment, with £100 million of this being used for an Environmental Farming Scheme.
Local Action Groups have been allocated £70 million for broader rural development measures, consultation with rural communities will help develop how this funding is accessed.
Today’s announcement brings the total amount of the EU RDP budget now approved to 76.6%. The Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales received approval for their RDP on 26 May and England’s RDP was approved earlier in the year on 13 February.
(Source – Irish Farmers Journal – Peter Mc Cann – 25/08/2015)