Rural Development to fund diversification projects

Rural Development funding for farmers in the Vale of Glamorgan, aimed at farm diversification projects, is being promoted by NFU Cymru for those seeking to find alternative income streams in the future.

The aim of the ’Pride in our Farming Families’ grant scheme is to allow farmers in rural areas of the Vale of Glamorgan to have the opportunity to invest in new initiatives on their farm.

Nia Hollins, who attended the Glamorgan NFU Cymru county meeting held at the Bear Hotel in Cowbridge said, ’The Creative Rural Communities Partnership developed this scheme in the hope that the investment will support our farming community to become more sustainable in the long term and help keep the skills of the farming household within their own business. Funding of up to ’40,000 or 70% of the total project cost, whichever is lowest, is available to farmers setting up a non-agricultural diversification project.’

Andrew Edwards, NFU Cymru Glamorgan County Chairman said, ’This budget is only allocated until December 2013 which is fast approaching, so anyone thinking about a diversification project should most definitely explore this avenue for funding.

’This is money, which has been deducted on a compulsory basis from farmers through a deduction from their direct support, so I encourage everyone to look at what funding is available from county councils, throughout Wales, to see if this money can be recovered in order to be regenerated within the rural economy through on farm diversification projects.’