First round of funding issued under the Farm Modernisation Programme

23/02/2011

Minister Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA has announced that Letters of Offer to the value of over £1million pounds had issued to farm businesses under Tranche 2 of the Farm Modernisation Programme (FMP).

Outlining progress on Tranche 2 of FMP, the Minister said: "I can confirm that almost 400 letters of offer worth just over £1million in funding have already issued to farm businesses which submitted applications to the Farm Modernisation Programme. This Tranche of the Programme is worth £7million in funding in total and my Department will be working hard to ensure that by the end of March this funding is fully allocated and that all farmers are informed of the outcome of their application, whether successful or not."

Farm Modernisation is funded by the EU under Axis 1 of Rural Development Programme 2007-2013.

The Minister added: "Farm businesses have 21 days to respond to the Delivery Agent, Countryside Agri -Rural Partnership, accepting their Letter of Offer and I would ask them to ensure that the Form of Acceptance enclosed with their Letter of Offer is returned to Countryside Agri-Rural Partnership within this timescale in order that the Programme can re-allocate funding where funding offers are not accepted. I would also take this opportunity to urge them to quickly return the anonymous equality monitoring forms enclosed with the Letter of Offer as this will assist in taking forward preparations for a further Tranche of this popular Programme later in 2011."

In conclusion, the Minister said: "The delivery of funds under the FMP to farmers on the ground, will be very welcome news in the current economic climate and I look forward to seeing the results. Farmers are once again able to invest in their farms and local rural communities with help from FMP funding and it is my intention that the £7million is paid out as quickly as possible."

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