Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP)

The Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) delivers Pillar 2 of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). It funds economic, environmental and social measures for the benefit of rural Scotland.

The purpose of the SRDP is to help achieve sustainable economic growth.

The main priorities are: enhancing the rural economy, supporting agricultural and forestry businesses, protecting and improving the natural environment, addressing the impact of climate change and supporting rural communities.

Pillar 2 takes the form of rural development programmes and is co-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

SRDP guidance

We produce guides on how SRDP will operate throughout the programme period:

SRDP programme document (domestic): January 2021
SRDP programme document - December 2019
SRDP information and publicity strategy outlines how we will target stakeholders - April 2018

Annual implementation reports

We submit rural development programme annual implementation reports to the European Commission annually (in June) along with a summary for citizens document.

SRDP schemes

An overview of the SRDP 2014 to 2020 schemes is provided below. However, more information, guidance and online applications is available on the Rural Payments and Services.

Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) - providing essential support to farming businesses in remote and constrained rural areas.

Rural Development: Forestry Grant Scheme - a range of grants for woodland creation, agroforestry, tree health, woodland improvement, processing and marketing and sustainable management of forests.

Rural Development: Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (including support for organics and footpaths) - targeted support for land managers to undertake management and capital work for environmental purposes.

Rural Development: Beef Efficiency Scheme - to deliver economic and environmental improvements in the beef sector.

Rural Development: New Entrants - start-up grants for new entrant young farmers of up to 40 years old (as set by Europe) and capital funding for new entrants, regardless of age, to improve their business.

Rural Development: Crofting Agricultural Grant Scheme - grants to improve crofts which will help to sustain crofting business.

Rural Development: Small Farms Grant Scheme - targeted support for small farms that face similar issues as crofters regarding sustainability.

Rural Development: Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation - support for SMEs in the food and drink sector with start-up grants for new enterprises, and business development grants.

Rural Development: LEADER - LEADER will provide opportunities for individuals, businesses and communities to come together and support rural development and provide long lasting benefits to the local area. This will include support for non-agricultural small businesses including farm diversification.

Rural Development: Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund (KTIF) - sharing innovative ways of improving working practices along with continuing support for Monitor Farms.

Rural Development: Advisory Service - the Farm Advisory Service will provide advice and assistance to farmers, crofters and other land managers.

Rural Development: Broadband - support for broadband provision in rural areas.

Scottish Rural Network - supporting and promoting rural development through the sharing of ideas and best practice.

SRDP 2014 to 2020: infographic

Inspections

A programme of inspections is designed to ensure we meet our obligations for using European Commission funding. The inspections are important because we can be fined by the European Commission for failing to meet certain funding, welfare and environmental regulations.

More information about inspections is available on the Rural Payments website.

Monitoring groups

These groups monitor the SRDP programme:

Agricultural payments: Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)