Welsh Rural Development Programme announced

[bracken basher]

I see that our new minister has announced the next Rural Development programme for 2014-20 yesterday.

Rural Development Programme will see nearly £1 billion invested in the future of rural Wales
Economy Minister, Edwina Hart has set out how the Welsh Government plans to use nearly £1bn to transform and strengthen Wales’ farming industry and rural communities.
Tuesday 08 July 2014
The new Rural Development Programme will result in £953m being invested between 2014 and 2020 to ensure a vibrant future for rural Wales. The fund will include an investment of over £400m from the Welsh Government.
Edwina Hart said:
“The next Rural Development Programme will be targeted at modernising our farming sector and ensuring it is as competitive and innovative as possible.
“It will focus on improving the management and use of our natural resources which are vital to us all, and further developing our local rural economies so we can increase opportunities for people living there, strengthen resilience and tackle rural poverty. ”
The Rural Development Programme will cover four key areas:

• investing in people – the RDP will be used to build skills, knowledge and confidence through effective training and advice
• capital investment - a new Sustainable Production Grant will provide capital support for farm modernisation and resource efficiencies, there will be an expanded Young Entrant Support Scheme and increased investment in processing within the agricultural, forestry and food sectors
• land-based measures - the Glastir scheme will be used to support integrated eco systems and new schemes will be put in place to support organic farming, woodland management and support for plant disease threats
• local economic interventions – the LEADER programme and a new Rural Communities Development Fund will be targeted at economic development, tackling rural poverty and promoting social inclusion

Within the programme it is proposed that £105 million will be invested in human capital interventions, £143m will be invested in asset investments, £572m will be invested in land based measures and £95m will go to LEADER and the new Rural Community Development Fund.
The RDP will be submitted to the European Commission in the next fortnight, with further negotiations taking place in the months ahead. The new Rural Development Programme will be launched next year.
http://wales.gov.uk/newsroom/environmentandcountryside/2014/140708rdp/?lang=en

 

[topground]

Not farming in Wales this is only of academic interest to me, but I wonder how much of this money will be swallowed up in administration costs by the Welsh Civil Service and what proportion will find it's way to the rural economy?

 

[Blod]

What is a "human capital intervention"? And whose assets will they be investing £143m in?

 

[Yale]

Sustainable production grant?

I could spend some of that.

New sheep shed to prevent soil erosion.

 

[7610 super q]

Sounds like rubbish twaddle.Still keeps consultants in business

 

[Headless chicken]

Bingo! You can have this lovely grant but you have to hire a consultant at inflated an extortionate rates which soon swallow up all that you have gained

 

[SilliamWhale]

I read these as:

• More funding for pa1, pa2, chainsaw, hoof trimming and first aid type courses
• A grant scheme for young entrants and probably something to do with slurry stores, cold stores etc.
• Glastir being the funnel for most enviro payments
• LEADER - not sure. Maybe for lots of smaller community projects

More of the same really. If you can make it fit then its quite good. Certainly some of the more expensive courses (FACTS, BASIS for example) being funded can be useful.