AQW 18854/17-22

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 13/05/2021
Answered On Date: 24/05/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to increase uptake of environmental land management schemes amongst agricultural businesses.

Answer:

The Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) is the main environmental land management scheme in Northern Ireland. The first EFS agreements commenced in 2017 and, following four tranches, there are now approximately 5,000 EFS Agreement Holders. In advance of, and during, the opening of each EFS application period my officials conduct a promotional press campaign, and highlight the scheme through social media channels and on the DAERA website where information is continually available.

The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) also holds information events to support farmers in their applications, option selection and scheme understanding, at appropriate times of the year.

EFS Group projects are funded to encourage scheme uptake and support EFS agreement holders in specific, targeted areas, such as environmentally designated land, priority habitat, or water catchments. EFS Group projects are delivered by independent facilitator organisations and the five projects in place support over 500 Group members.

Scheme officials, working closely with NIEA and using geographic information system technology, have proactively contacted businesses within priority river catchments or priority habitat areas.

Throughout the year, the scheme regularly features in the Farm Advisory Service newsletter which issues to all farm businesses in Northern Ireland from CAFRE. In addition, the benefits of EFS and environmentally sensitive farming in general, are promoted through the Business Development Groups, led by CAFRE and, in particular, to the new Environmental Development Groups.