This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Further cash for farm businesses
24/02/2006
A further £1 million has been distributed to 51 new projects under the Farm Business Development Scheme to help farming families in the Lowlands of Scotland to establish new, or expand existing diversified businesses.
Rural Development Minister Ross Finnie said:
"The Scottish Executive is fully committed to increasing prosperity and the quality of life in rural Scotland. This scheme makes a valuable contribution in delivering that objective.
"Since its introduction in 2001 the Farm Business Development Scheme has played an important part in creating new income-generating opportunities through diversified activities either on or off farm. In that time over 1200 projects have been approved totalling grant of more than £20.5M. The recent expansion of the Scheme, to include a new measure supporting investment in agricultural holdings, is a further boost to the rural community.
"This level of funding announced helps farming businesses remain profitable and provides wider benefits such as creating much needed jobs, attracting visitors and providing services not currently available in certain areas."
FBDS operates across Scotland for farmers and their immediate families, from East Moray in the north to Dumfries & Galloway in the south.
It was launched in 2001 to provide variable grant assistance of up to 50% for farming families wishing to diversify either within or outwith agriculture. With effect from June 2005 it was expanded to include a new measure to support investment in agricultural holdings (IiH), with the grant ceiling raised from £25K to £30K. The scheme is discretionary and competitive.
Five locally based Project Assessment Committees (PACs) assess diversification applications. These PACs consist of representatives from partner organisations, including local authorities, local enterprise companies, Scottish National Heritage and VisitScotland. The National Farmers Union and the Scottish Rural Land & Property Business Association represent industry interests.
The latest round attracted a total of 72 diversification applications, for a wide variety of measures (e.g. improving facilities for tourists, renovating redundant farm building for new purposes, and equine projects). Of these, 51 projects were approved with another seven being deferred for receipt of further information.