Partnerships the key to ‘game-changing’ funding
In order to key into future funding and support opportunities Scotland’s farmers need to grab the opportunities which could be presented by becoming fully involved with the proposed Regional Land Use Partnerships (RLUP).
Claiming that involvement with RLUP’S could offer those in the industry the potential to tap into “game changing” funding sources, Angus farmer and rural tourism advocate Caroline Millar said that the sector shouldn’t be put off by the prospect of involvement with and representation on yet another statutory body.
And she said that she understood why the proposals, which were being put forward by the Scottish Land Commission – an organisation many in the industry felt were entrenched in land reform politics “could make the farming industry nervous of engagement. Uncertainty is never helpful in farming and at the end of the day we have a business to run.”
However she added: “We must not allow that to cloud our viewpoint or limit our ability to grasp what is undoubtedly a fantastic opportunity for farmers and crofters in Scotland to engage firsthand with policy makers and the wider community in our local areas.
“There is no doubt that we need to get better at getting across our key messages about what we do, how we do it and why we do it to a wider audience. In general, the public does not have a great understanding of farming, and if we keep them at arm’s length this will not change.”
Millar, who is a member of NFU Scotland’s legal and technical committee and also runs a successful agri-tourism business as part of a diverse family farming business near Dundeestressed the importance of continuing to access alternative sources of finance.
She continued: “This is something which could be a huge boost to rural Scotland and which I welcome. Rural support budgets are under increasing pressure, so real business-oriented alternatives from wider sources could be a real game changer for farmers who really want to add value to what they do.”
She conceded that some farmers might not want to get involved in areas such as agritourism themselves but said they might have a perfect piece of rough hill ground or a redundant building that an external tourism business could use to base their business, saying: “This is not a common occurrence in Scotland at the moment but a farmer getting a rent for redundant assets by a third party who can make a real go of a new enterprise on the farm, with no farmer involvement, is a real opportunity for the rural economy.”
She said this was but one example of something which could be driven forward by the Regional Land Use Partnerships:
“Having an extra £10,000 to your bottom line for not much effort has to be an attractive prospect.”
And Millar concluded: “Rural Land Use Partnerships present an exciting opportunity for us to work better together within industry, be more targeted with support and really show why farming is the cornerstone of rural Scotland.”