A NEW strategy offering increased financial aid for Jersey farmers is ‘a huge step forward’, according to the Assistant Economic Development Minister.
Deputy Kirsten Morel spoke following the publication of the government’s Economic Framework for the Rural Environment, which is designed to help manage the way government support is directed across the sector.
Within the 63-page document is a Rural Support Scheme that features three tiers, including an entry -level phase that rewards successful accreditation by recognised baseline independent audit schemes.
Payment rates for this first tier of support would vary between £1,500 and £3,500 per scheme for ‘bona fide agriculture businesses’ – defined as having a gross margin in excess of £40,000 per year – and from £1,000 to £1,500 for ‘smallholders’ with a gross margin between £5,000 and £40,000.
Tier two involves a ‘Sustainable Farming Incentive’, with support paid as a Single Area Payment per vergée for land – ranging from £15 to £1,900 – which is conditional on the adoption of environmental and sustainable farming practices.
There is also a Quality Milk Payment to specifically assist the dairy sector, conditional on dairy cows being registered in the Jersey pedigree herd book, compliance with hygiene and welfare legislation and codes of good agricultural and environmental practice, with payments made ‘per milking animal’.
The third tier would introduce a ‘Rural Initiative Scheme’ to invest in training, agricultural-technology and other innovative and environmental improvements. Grant support will be available for up to 80% of the capital cost for qualifying projects, with a maximum cap based on the type of business – £10,000 for bona fide agriculture businesses and £5,000 for smallholders – plus an area rate of £10 per vergée for the amount of land managed.
Deputy Morel described the strategy as a ‘huge step forward’ and said that he hoped the next government would take it forward.
‘Jersey’s entire landscape is farming and if the fields are not used, they will inevitably be built on – irreparably changing the nature of the Island.
‘At the beginning of the government term the funding provided to the rural economy was £1 million, which has since increased to £2 million. We are seeking to increase this to £3 million through the next Government Plan,’ he said.
Deputy Morel noted that it was important that the support scheme applied to both smallholders as well as large, established agricultural businesses.
‘The strategy really does look at every area. Most importantly we also look at skills and career development because one of the issues we have in Jersey is [the] succession of farms,’ he added.
‘We know people want to farm and this strategy will help provide pathways for the next generation to enter the industry.’
Peter Le Maistre, the president of the Jersey Farmers’ Union, said the document contained ‘a lot of good stuff’.
‘We are very pleased with the new strategy. We are certainly in very difficult trading circumstances at the moment. It’s exciting that there is more money in the scheme, as that will help increase productivity on farms,’ he said.
