5 December 2008
MINISTER SARGENT ANNOUNCES GRANT AID SCHEME FOR HORTICULTURE GROWERS 2009
Mr Trevor Sargent, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture,Fisheries and Food, with special responsibility for Horticulture, today announced details of the second round of the grant aid scheme for thedevelopment of the horticulture sector under the National Development Plan (2007-2013).
The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday, 16th January 2009 and only investments commenced after the issue of letters of approval will be eligible.
This aid which is set at 40% (50% in the case of young farmers) of total eligible capital investment will fund projects in commercial horticultural production carried out in 2009. The scheme covers all horticultural sectors – mushrooms, protected crops, nursery crops, field vegetables, soft fruit, apples and beekeeping – and is aimed at assisting growers to efficiently produce high quality products in a very competitive market.
Minister Sargent said that horticultural output was now valued at over EUR300m and retail sales were of the order of EUR650m. The importance of fruit andvegetables in a healthy diet is so important in light of the recent reports on the increase in obesity in the young population. “There is need for improved production structures and equipment for energy conservation, good agriculture practice, improved hygiene and environmental standards and improved workingconditions. These are essential to increase competitiveness, ensure sustainable production and to assist growers in meeting the increasing demands of retail outlets in terms of production standards,” Minister Sargent said.
Minister Sargent also said that there is need to sustain expertise and maintain production capacity at close to existing levels in order that production volume is in line with domestic demand thus reducing the carbon footprint.
Details of the scheme and application forms can be obtained from Crop Production and Safety Division, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Maynooth Business Campus, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, 01 5053345/5053347 or at www.agriculture.gov.ie.
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