Wales doubles organic farming budget

11 October 2000



Wales doubles organic farming budget

by FWi staff

THE Welsh Assemblys has announced that it is doubling the amount of money aimed at encouraging farmers to convert their farms to organic status.

The budget for the Organic Farming Scheme in Wales has been increased from 1.95 million to 4.23 million this year and will re-open on 1 November.

News that an extra 2.2 million is being made available this year for farmers wishing to organic was welcomed by the Farmers Union of Wales.

Rhian Nowell-Phillips, FUW land use officer, said it would go a long way towards assisting many farmers in their ambitions to convert to organic methods.

“It also ends the uncertainty in the minds of farmers over the future of the scheme,” she added.

However, the FUW hopes that the scheme will open much earlier next year, with more time available for farmers to submit their applications.

Launched last October, the Organic Farming Scheme provides financial assistance to farmers wishing to convert to organic production.

In the first year all 250 eligible applicants were supported.