A new service has been launched in Wales to support groups of farmers wanting to apply for grants up to £700,000 to improve management of natural resources.
The Sustainable Management Scheme (SMS) offers grants of up to £700,000 for collaborative groups looking to improve the management of natural resources.
The support service will be delivered by Menter a Busnes under the flagship Farming Connect Programme on behalf of the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020, which is funded by the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.
Fifteen facilitators have been selected to provide support for groups of farmers to develop their ideas and to submit their expression of interest to Welsh Government.
If groups are successful at the EOI stage and invited to submit a full proposal, the facilitator will be available to provide further support.
Eirwen Williams, Menter a Busnes Director said: “This service will provide farmers with guidance and information as they develop their project ideas. Sometimes the process of applying for funding can seem rather daunting but with this service a facilitator will be at hand to provide continued support.”
Examples of successful projects in the past are the Eden Catchment programme which is a farmer led project centred on the improvement of the river Eden catchment by planting and managing native deciduous trees.
Another example includes the Fferm Ifan project, a cooperation of 11 farmers who are implementing new targeted land management actions which will also deliver socio-economic benefits.
