Charities offering emergency fund as farmers struggle with 'devastating' flash floods
Two leading countryside charities are partnering together to offer assistance to farm businesses affected by the devastating flash floods in Northern Ireland.
The Prince’s Countryside Fund is to partner with Rural Support NI to assist farmers affected by the recent floods with an emergency fund, and to assist in their recovery longer-term.
Many farmers are currently assessing the damage to their businesses due to the recent floods which hit Northern Ireland on 22 August.
A number have lost livestock or suffered damage to farmland or properties. For example, tens of thousands of chickens have been killed in the floods.
It also led the Northern Ireland Agriculture Department (DAERA) announcing that it will liaise with the UK government to seek permission from the EU to allow it to raise the level of advanced CAP payment made in October from 50% to 70%.
DAERA said that an increase in the level of advanced CAP payment will help alleviate some of the costs, and will help encourage the EU to make these payments.
'Devastating blow'
The charity partnership announcement comes at a time when many homes and farms are still flooded.
Claire Saunders, Director of The Prince’s Countryside Fund said: “Homes and farms have been flooded, infrastructure destroyed, and livestock drowned, but the full impact of these floods is yet to be seen.
“Farmers are having to house livestock that would normally be grazing until October, which going forward will cause feed shortages and cashflow problems. This is a devastating blow to farm businesses which are already hard pressed, and poses a serious threat to farmers livelihoods and the viability of their businesses.”
Ulster Farmers’ Union President Barclay Bell said: “The farming families in Northern Ireland affected by the flooding are in need of immediate practical help but they also need longer-term support as they work to rebuild their businesses and community infrastructure.”
Chief Executive of Rural Support, Jude McCann said: “The recent flooding has severely impacted hundreds of farming families and the financial implications can lead to increased stress for all affected.
“The contribution from the fund will ensure that we have the necessary resources to provide support to individual farm businesses over the coming months. Mentors will be available to help farmers work through the current situation and put together a plan for the coming months providing not only practical but also emotional and impartial support.”
If you are a farm business affected by flooding, please contact the Rural Support helpline on 0845 606 7 60
