€10.2m available to horticulture sector under investment aid scheme

VEGETABLE growers are invited to apply for support under the Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector, announced by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Some €10.2m will be released between now and the end of the year. The package will provide grants to 157 horticultural producers to assist in funding capital investments in specialist new equipment and facilities. The grant aid covers all areas of the horticultural industry, including field vegetables, mushrooms, protected crops, nursery crops, soft fruits/apples, cut foliage and bee-keeping.

Minister of State, Shane McEntee, said: “It’s most encouraging to see the level of confidence that currently exists within the horticulture sector as demonstrated by the number of high quality projects that have sought assistance under the scheme.”