Sopa- Scottish Rural Development Plan Approved by Brussels
12 March 2008
The £1.6 billion Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) is now being rolled out to promote sustainable economic growth in rural communities the length and breadth of the country.Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead, will begin releasing funds from today following final approval of the SRDP from Brussels.
The SRDP will provide funding to communities, agricultural businesses, environmental projects, farmers and crofters in a strategic approach until 2012.
To be eligible for funding projects must: improve business viability and competitiveness; provide environmental improvements to water quality, landscape and biodiversity or contribute towards tackling climate change; or help develop thriving rural communities.
The SRDP offers funding opportunities for Scotland's organic farmers, but it is a completely new way of working with government and EU funding and SOPA expects it will take time to gain a full understanding of the requirements and opportunities. Each individual circumstance will have to be looked at on a case by case basis to maximise the availability of funds.
Timing of implementation is still not clear, but it looks like the web-based system for applications will go live sometime in April and the first RPACs meeting in July.
This confirms our fears that there will be no organic conversion or maintenance funding available in 2008 and although applications can be made this year, claims will not be paid until December 2009.