The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Minister Andrew Muir, has updated members of the legislative assembly on his plans for DAERA’s newly formulated farm support regime, entitled Sustainable Agriculture Programme (SAP).
SAP, formerly known as the Farm Support and Development Programme, has reportedly been re-named and redesigned to better support the sustainable transition within Northern Ireland’s farming sector.
The programme has received funding from the treasury’s earmarked budget for agriculture, the environment, and wider rural economy, within Northern Ireland (NI) until March 31, 2025.
After this point, funding for farming and fishing will no longer be ringfenced by the treasury, but instead, will be entirely dependent on the decisions of the Executive, who will be granted full economic autonomy.
In a written ministerial statement, Minister Muir provided details of the schemes included and outlined a supporting programme of communications to ensure farm businesses and those who provide support services are fully informed of the timelines and the preparation required.
Sustainable Agriculture Programme
Speaking of the update, Minister Muir said: “The Sustainable Agriculture Programme has been co-designed with key agriculture and environmental stakeholders, which I believe, has brought robustness to scheme development.
“It will provide options for all farm businesses in Northern Ireland to secure and improve their viability and environmental sustainability.
“I have agreed the timeline for the roll-out of the next phase of schemes over the next two years. This will be available on the department’s website in the coming days and I would encourage farmers to take a look at when schemes will commence.”
The schemes due to be rolled out this year include:
- Farm Sustainability Transition Payment;
- Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme Year 2;
- Suckler Cow Scheme Year 1;
- Farming with Nature Transition Scheme;
- Sustainable Farming Investment Scheme;
- Farming for the Generations;
- Horticulture Scheme;
- Farming for Sustainability – Knowledge Transfer;
- Supporting Agri-Professionals Programme;
- Farming for Carbon Programme;
- Soil Nutrient Health Scheme Zone 4.
The minister went on to outline the steps being taken to ensure every farm business is aware of the programme.
“Having taken on board feedback from stakeholders and to ensure that communications extend to the entirety of our target audience, I have also agreed that the first edition of a SAP newsletter will issue in hard copy to farm businesses in NI,” he said.
“This will serve as a helpful information resource for farm businesses and will be issued in the coming months. I am also pleased to announce that a series of awareness events will take place across NI in February and March this year.
“These events aim to raise awareness and encourage farmers to take all necessary actions regarding the schemes that have already launched or are scheduled to commence.
“SAP is fundamental to helping DAERA support our farm businesses and will enable us to collectively achieve our environmental and climate change goals, providing the right support and policies to help us move forward on a journey of change ensuring both economic and environmental sustainability.”
According to DAERA, the programme was co-designed with the Northern Ireland agricultural industry and other key food and environmental stakeholders.