€4.5m scheme to fund horticulture projects

Food producers have until January 23 to apply for grants to support capital investments as part of a €4.5m scheme for the commercial horticulture sector announced yesterday by Agriculture Minister of State, Tom Hayes.

Only investments which start after the issue of a letter of approval will be eligible for aid. The scheme is open to all horticultural sectors, including protected crops, nursery crops, field vegetables, soft fruit, apples, beekeeping and mushrooms. The scheme will support approved capital investments undertaken by October 2, 2015, at a rate of 40%; or 50% in the case of qualifying young farmers.

Minister Hayes said: “I am delighted that, for the first time, investments which could not physically be completed within the year of being approved could now be facilitated through agreement to allow a limited number of duly justified projects to be approved...for completion by September 30, 2016.

“The new provision addresses [the tight timeframe for completion] and will provide opportunities...that could never have been considered heretofore under the scheme.” The Minister noted that, in 2014, applicants sought almost three times the available funding.