This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Agriculture Business Development Scheme
22/09/2005
Farming families in the Highlands and Islands are to share a new allocation of £790,000 to help support new or existing diversification projects through the Executive's Agricultural Business Development Scheme (ABDS).
To date 1,031 applications have been successful since the ABDS was launched in late 2000 providing total grants of £13,705,903.
Rural Development Minister Ross Finnie said:
"The Scottish Executive is committed to supporting and strengthening Scotland's rural economy.
"The funding announced today will provide a platform for farmers and their families to enhance their income and create employment opportunities. Importantly, the wider community also benefits through sustainable economic development."
Since 2000 the Executive has provided grants to over 850 projects to allow farmers the opportunity to restructure and improve their business while providing environmental, animal welfare and health and safety benefits.
ABDS, scheduled to run until 2006, operates across the Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme Area (H&ISTP). Farmers in the rest of Scotland are eligible to apply for grant assistance under the Farm Business Development Scheme.
ABDS discretionary and competitive providing variable grant assistance of up to 50 per cent to farmers wishing to restructure or re-orientate production, or to diversify either within or out with agriculture. It is co-financed by the Executive and the European Union.
The overall budget for the scheme is approximately £17 million.
Applications are assessed by a Project Assessment Committee (PAC). The non-agricultural diversification PAC is made up from representatives of the Scottish Executive and from partner organisations including local authorities, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and VisitScotland. Industry interests are represented by NFU Scotland, the Scottish Crofting Foundation and the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association, who can send representatives to observe the proceedings. All of the above organisations were involved in the Scheme's design.
The closing date for the next round of ABDS applications is October 7.