Gildernew encourages farm families to consider Farm Family Options

Agriculture and Rural Development Minister, Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA is encouraging farm families to avail of the opportunities available to them under the Farm Family Options initiative.

The initiative aims to help members of farm families to review their current position, consider options for the future of the farm and themselves and take steps towards providing a better future for themselves and their family. Under the new scheme, which is part of the 2007-2013 Rural Development Programme, mentoring and funding is available to assist farm families in pursuit of a more secure and sustainable future.

Speaking during a visit to an information evening at Loughry College, Cookstown, the Minister said: “The farm family is an integral part of the rural community and initiatives such as Farm Family Options aim to provide necessary support during a period of significant change.

“In recent years we have witnessed significant changes in the structure of the farming sector. This has brought challenges for many farm families. However, the changing role that farming plays in maintaining the rural resource for everyone has, at the same time, brought great opportunity.

“It is important that farm families plan for their future. This could include consideration of business improvements, diversification, succession and retirement or a full or part-time career off-farm to run alongside the family farm business.

“This scheme can assist in two ways. Firstly, through the support of a skilled mentor, a free and confidential service will enable the farm family to reflect on their business, examine options open to them and draw up a plan of action. Secondly, training grants can enable farmers and their families to develop skills to enable the existing farm business to work more efficiently. Or it can be an opportunity to retrain or develop skills required to diversify into other enterprises or secure off-farm employment to supplement the farm income.

“To see so many people come along to this information evening is encouraging and I would urge as many farm families as possible to go along to these meetings and find out more about the support available."

Farm Family Options is funded by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) as part of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013.

Notes to editors:

1. Farm Family Options is funded under Axis 1 of the 2007-2013 Rural Development Programme (RDP).

2. The information evening was organised by the Countryside Agri-Rural Partnership which is a consortium led by Countryside Services Limited, working together with Ai Services Limited and the Northern Ireland Rural Development Council. The Partnership has been appointed to deliver a range of schemes under the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013.

3. Further details of the schemes are available on the RDP website.

4. Further information evenings are scheduled for:

• Monday 30 November, Mourne Country Hotel, 52 Belfast Road, Newry
• Tuesday 1 December, Radisson Roe Park Hotel, Limavady, Co Derry
• Wednesday 2 December, Tullyglass House Hotel, Galgorm Road, Ballymena, Co Antrim
• Monday 7 December, Gil-Good Lodge, 13 Moira Road, Upper Ballinderry, Lisburn, Co Antrim

5. All information evenings will take place between 5.00pm and 9.30pm.

6. All media enquiries should be directed to the DARD Press Office on 028 9052 4619. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.