This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Agri roadshows for Highland and Islands
10/06/2002
A series of nine roadshows are to highlight assistance
available under the EU and Executive funded Highlands &
Islands Special Transitional Programme.
Organised in collaboration with the National Farmers
Union Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Highland
Council and the Scottish Crofting Foundation, the subject
matter will be three grant schemes worth £25 million
between 2001 and 2006.
Representatives from the Executive and Crofters
Commission will provide presentations highlighting the aims
and objectives of the H&ISTP schemes and explaining the
critical elements of the application process.
400 applicants throughout the Highlands and islands have
already been awarded grants totalling almost £10 million.
The grant funding has helped to kick-start projects and
made a significant contribution to the rural economy.
The roadshows will be held at the following venues:
Beafort Hotel, Inverness Monday 10 June at 7.30pm
Rogart Hall, Rogart Tuesday 11 June at 7.30pm
Portland Arms, Lybster Wednesday 12 June at 7.30pm
Cullin Hotel, Portree, Isle of Skye Monday 17 June at
7.00pm
The Anchor Hotel, Tarbert Friday 28 June at 1.00pm
The Lerwick Hotel, Shetland Monday 1 July at 7.30pm
Seaforth Hotel, Stornoway Tuesday 9 July at 7.00pm
The Imperial Hotel, Fort William Thursday 11 July at
7.00pm
Kirkwall Hotel, Orkney Tuesday 16 July at 7.30pm
The grant schemes are co-funded by the Scottish
Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department and from
the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund
element of the H&ISTP, are:
Agricultural Business Development
Scheme
The Agricultural Business Development Scheme is an
innovative business for farmers, crofters and their
immediate families living on or adjacent to an eligible
agricultural business. The Scheme was approved by the
Scottish Parliament in February 2001
It is a discretionary and highly competitive scheme
designed to offer assistance to agricultural businesses
wishing to restructure, re-orientate production or
diversify within or outwith agriculture. It is also open to
family members wishing to establish or to expand their
existing diversification enterprises.
Crofting Community Development
Scheme
The Crofting Community Development Scheme operates under
the Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme
and is jointly funded by SEERAD and the EU. The Scheme is
administered on behalf of SEERAD by the Crofters
Commission.
The Scheme is designed to assist crofting groups to
prepare development plans to improve the quality and the
marketing of agricultural output, establish communication
links and management structures, identify local social and
cultural projects, diversify, adoption of beneficial
environmental measures and prepare and implement training
programmes.
Processing & Marketing Grant
Scheme
The Highland & Islands Agriculture Processing and
Marketing Grant Scheme provides capital and non capital
assistance towards the processing of agriculture produce
for on farm enterprises through to Scottish brand leaders.
The scheme allows producers and processors to add value,
improve quality, increase revenue and compete more
effectively in the market place. It is also designed to
secure market outlets for Scotland's farm produce and to
encourage farmers and growers to collaborate together to
secure new markets, and shorten the supply chain to
customers.