SACGS pilot a ‘ positive first step’

The opening of the Scott i sh Government’s Sustainable Agriculture Capital Grant Scheme ( SACGS) for applications this Monday has been welcomed by the farming industry.

The pilot scheme which was announced earlier this week offers capital grant funding of up to £ 20,000 f o r f a r mers a nd c r o f t - ers making investments aimed at cutting carbon emissions and improving the natural environment.

The scheme will grant aid the purchase of specific items of agricultural equipment, covering 50 per cent of capital items costs ( or 60 per cent if the business is in the Highlands and Islands).

However, while welcoming the scheme which aims to support capital investments aimed at enhancing the environment, NFU Scotland this week said t hat t he £ 10 million on offer should be “substantially built upon”.

NFU president Andrew Mc C o r n i c k s a i d s u c h assistance would be key i n s uppor t i ng S c ot t i s h agriculture in its positive response to the climate emergency and drive forward a gr e e n r e c over y from Covid- 19.

But he added that a greater commitment would be r equired t o deliver t he desired outcomes: “Signi f i c ant c apit al i nvestment in agricultural businesses is required if Scottish agriculture is to play as full a role as possible in supporting the Scottish Government’s ambitions a r o u n d g r e e n g r ow t h .

“The SACGS pilot grant scheme is a positive first step forward in taking the transition to lower emissions in farming to the next level. We would support a much l arger scheme t o follow this pilot with more options that will allow every farm and croft to access measures appropriate to their business.”