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Support payments for farmers
14/02/2008
The majority of eligible LFASS (Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme) 2007 payments should be with producers by the end of this week.
Payments have been made 'at risk' following the recommendation that the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) be approved, but in advance of formal approval being received from the EU.
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Richard Lochhead said:
"Following the recommendation on January 23 that the SRDP should be approved, I said that I would proceed with 'at risk' payments of LFASS 2007 in advance of receiving formal approval.
"Plans were in place to take a phased roll-out of payments with the process beginning at the end of January. That has taken place, and by the end of this week we will have paid over £51 million to almost 11,000 farmers - that is about 87 per cent of claimants.
"This is excellent news for LFASS claimants. Work is in progress to complete the programme of claim processing. I hope to make more payments this month, and to complete the bulk of remaining eligible claimants by the end of March."
The Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme (LFASS) supports farming and crofting business in upland and remote areas in order to compensate for difficulties they face due to physical conditions and distances to suppliers and markets. It is a major contribution to business viability in these areas.
LFASS is part of the 2007-13 Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) which is a major programme for support for Rural Scotland worth about £1.6 billion over the programme period. The objectives are set out in three themes; these are to increase competitiveness in agriculture and forestry, improve the environment and countryside and enhance the quality of life in rural areas.
The SRDP is based on delivering outcomes for Rural Scotland. Five key outcomes have been identified. These are to improve business viability, enhance biodiversity and landscape, improve water quality, tackle climate change and support thriving rural communities.