Minister opens investment aid scheme for horticulture sector
MINISTER of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for Horticulture, Andrew Doyle has launched the opening of the 2019 Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector.
The scheme is a competitive scheme open to all horticultural sectors – field vegetables, mushrooms, protected food crops, amenity crops, soft fruit, apples and beekeeping and will provide grant aid, at a rate of 40 per cent, for approved capital investments.
The closing date for receipt of applications is December 19 of this year.
Launching the Scheme Minister of State Doyle said: ‘ The annual budget for the Scheme has been increased by €1 million to €6 million for 2019 reflecting this Government’s commitment to the sector especially in light of the emerging challenges and potential opportunities arising from Brexit.
‘Last year Ireland’s horticulture sector contributed over €430 million to the value of output at farm-gate level and is estimated to be directly responsible for over 6,600 jobs with many more employed indirectly both upstream and downstream,’ he said.
‘ The sector has strong potential for growth and Brexit may provide opportunities for some sectors within the industry although it also presents challenges most notably for the mushroom sector given its dependence on the UK market’.