New options for support of rural development

Although the pot of rural development programme cash linked to the new common agricultural policy (CAP) will be smaller than previously and although it already has ear marked a large number of priorities, there are new opportunities that can be included in it.

Richard Lochhead left, and Nigel Miller with former presidents and chief executives of the NFU. Picture: Paul Watt

Speaking in Edinburgh yesterday ahead of addressing the Scottish Parliament, Michael McKenzie, a policy officer in the rural development directorate of the European Commission, highlighted the innovation partnership initiative.

The aim of this option in the rural development programme he said was to help get more value out of the excellent research work that was carried out in agriculture but which was sometimes not carried through to practical farming.

“We need to bridge the gap between the work done in the research stations and the work carried out on the farm and translate research into practice.”

He was also keen to emphasise the marketing option available to help reduce the food supply chain. This was not necessarily a geographically lengthy chain but any that had too many links, thus distancing the consumer from the producer. He said financial support would be available to help with this aspect of selling farm produce.

McKenzie stressed that it was up to the member states – and the regions – to decide what their priorities would be in targeting the cash from the rural development programme.

He was comfortable with each member state having different programmes although they would all have to be within the range of options put forward by the Commission.

Earlier he had confirmed the Commission had no issues with support payments continuing to go specifically to less favoured areas (LFA).