Grant help for Carmarthenshire farmers
An ambitious new £1.5 million grant scheme to help farmers to diversify and to retain young people within rural Carmarthenshire is due to be launched this summer.
Carmarthenshire County Council has attracted grant funding to offer support to farmers who want to develop other ventures to supplement their income.
The aim of the Supporting Farmers to Diversify grant scheme is to maintain and increase the income of farm households in rural Carmarthenshire by helping them to develop alternative sources of income and alternative employment opportunities through providing the capital needed to enable farming families to diversify into non agricultural activity.
The scheme has received funding through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013 which is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
The fund will provide financial support for farming households seeking to diversify into non agricultural activity. Capital grants at 50% of total project costs will be made available for the conversion of redundant buildings and the purchase of capital equipment.
The Rural Conversion Grant will offer assistance of between £10,000 and £50,000 for the conversion of redundant farm buildings to enable farmers to branch out into new non- agricultural business opportunities such as service activities including education, childcare and social skills facilities, outdoor pursuits and ancillary services linked to key tourist attractions, business rental and farm shops.
Capital Equipment grants will offer assistance of between £1,000 and £10,000 to assist farmers to purchase equipment for the purposes of diversification.
The scheme aims to result in the safeguarding of jobs in farming families, improvement of redundant farm buildings and retention of young people in the farming industry, focusing on value for money and environmental issues.
In order to qualify for the scheme, applicants must be located in the following areas: Abergwili, Carmarthen Town North, Carmarthen Town South, Carmarthen Town West, Cenarth, Cilycwm, Cynwyl Elfed, Cynwyl Gaeo, Gorslas, Laugharne Township, Llanboidy, Llanddarog, Llandeilo, Llandovery, Llandybie, Llanegwad, Llanfihangel Aberbythych, Llanfihangel-ar-Arth, Llangadog, Llangeler, Llangunnor, Llangyndeyrn, Llansteffan, Llanybydder, Manordeilo and Salem, St Clears, St Ishmael, Trelech and Whitland.
Carmarthenshire County Council executive board member for regeneration and leisure Cllr Clive Scourfield said: “I welcome the Supporting Farmers to Diversify grant scheme. It encourages farming families to look beyond what was traditional agriculture to what they can do to diversify in these difficult times.
“I hope farmers will sit down with their families to think about they can do to secure their future.”
Carmarthenshire County Council has attracted grant funding to offer support to farmers who want to develop other ventures to supplement their income.
The aim of the Supporting Farmers to Diversify grant scheme is to maintain and increase the income of farm households in rural Carmarthenshire by helping them to develop alternative sources of income and alternative employment opportunities through providing the capital needed to enable farming families to diversify into non agricultural activity.
The scheme has received funding through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013 which is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
The fund will provide financial support for farming households seeking to diversify into non agricultural activity. Capital grants at 50% of total project costs will be made available for the conversion of redundant buildings and the purchase of capital equipment.
The Rural Conversion Grant will offer assistance of between £10,000 and £50,000 for the conversion of redundant farm buildings to enable farmers to branch out into new non- agricultural business opportunities such as service activities including education, childcare and social skills facilities, outdoor pursuits and ancillary services linked to key tourist attractions, business rental and farm shops.
Capital Equipment grants will offer assistance of between £1,000 and £10,000 to assist farmers to purchase equipment for the purposes of diversification.
The scheme aims to result in the safeguarding of jobs in farming families, improvement of redundant farm buildings and retention of young people in the farming industry, focusing on value for money and environmental issues.
In order to qualify for the scheme, applicants must be located in the following areas: Abergwili, Carmarthen Town North, Carmarthen Town South, Carmarthen Town West, Cenarth, Cilycwm, Cynwyl Elfed, Cynwyl Gaeo, Gorslas, Laugharne Township, Llanboidy, Llanddarog, Llandeilo, Llandovery, Llandybie, Llanegwad, Llanfihangel Aberbythych, Llanfihangel-ar-Arth, Llangadog, Llangeler, Llangunnor, Llangyndeyrn, Llansteffan, Llanybydder, Manordeilo and Salem, St Clears, St Ishmael, Trelech and Whitland.
Carmarthenshire County Council executive board member for regeneration and leisure Cllr Clive Scourfield said: “I welcome the Supporting Farmers to Diversify grant scheme. It encourages farming families to look beyond what was traditional agriculture to what they can do to diversify in these difficult times.
“I hope farmers will sit down with their families to think about they can do to secure their future.”
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