The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Funds freed up as landowners asked to consider agritourism
THE SCOTTISH Government is directing funding towards the creation of two new agritourism monitor farms.
Making the big reveal during his address to the Scottish ‘Action on Agritourism’ conference, held in Kinross on Friday, Rural Affairs and the Environment Secretary Richard Loch head said the tourism industry will play a “crucial” role in driving rural regions forward in the wake of CAP reform.
According to Mr Lochhead, with Scotland staring the lowest pillar two funding of the whole of Europe straight in the face, courtesy of “being shafted by the Westminster Government”, Holyrood is looking to help farmers to consider diversifying farm enterprises to create additional income streams.
Mr Lochhead told delegates at the GoRural agritourism event: “As we look to the future of agriculture in Scotland, the future of food in Scotland and the future of the rural economy in Scotland, we want to find ways to support this agenda.
“I think there is absolutely enor mous potential for agritourism in Scotland — which already represents some of the highest standards and the highest quality of small businesses in the rural economy.”
Keen to see successful models of agritourism across the country’s more remote regions, Mr Lochhead said farmers and landowners that have not already should look to tap in to the prospect of diversified income from the tourism sector — valued at an estimated £3.1 billion every year to Scotland’s economy.
As a result, he said: “I am delighted that Scottish Enterprise is looking to establish and support agritourism monitor farms in Scotland by this spring.
“I encourage businesses to nominate themselves for this exciting initiative and look forward to hearing more about how our rural enterprises are working together to release their potential.”
According to Mr Lochhead, one agritourism monitor farm will be designated within the east of Scotland, and the second within the south of the country.
Each will be SRDP grant-funded through Scottish Enterprise, who will work with Go Rural and others to deliver a forum that people can visit to see what and how agritourism business is doing, while stimulating discussion across the diversified sector.
“That has worked very well with other monitor farms which we have supported in the past, be that forestry monitor farms, climate change monitor farms, or livestock monitor farms — basically it is like a hub where people can go, see one farm business and what they are doing that is special, how they did it and how everyone can learn and benefit from each other,” Mr Lochhead said. The Cabinet Secretary said he hoped the monitor farms would support the “agritourism revolution” and help farmers to diversify and “get through this period of change in farm support”.
“We’ve been given a really rough deal with pillar two funding,” Mr Lochhead said.
“Tourism is crucial in our remote and rural areas.
“Many f ar mers have already successfully diversified their business — branching out into walking and cycling, adventure tourism, food and drink, and local history and culture — and I am keen to see this success replicated across Scotland.”
Pointing to “extreme value” already proven by the SRDP, Mr Lochhead also appealed to all businesses in Scotland that have agritourism at their core, to respond to the CAP reform consultation.
This point was reiterated by several further speakers and delegates throughout the course of the morning and afternoon.
As part of CAP reform, Mr Lochhead said, both pillar one — which provides direct support farms through farm payments — and pillar two, the Rural Development Fund, face overhaul.
“The second pillar covers agrienvironment schemes, forestry, community halls, and, of course, support for businesses involved in related sectors — a prime example of which is the agritourism industry,” he said.
“We are now designing the new RDP and we have huge pressures on our budget.
“However, we have to make sure that what we do have to have in the programme is used a lot more smartly and hits the agendas we want to support as a country.
“What we will be able to do to support rural and agritourism businesses is going to be very important to us.”
Mr Lochhead said the Scottish Government is looking at other funding possibilities, such as grants, for small businesses within the rural economy as well as other forms of support.
“Leader money, which is support cash decided more locally through the local community and government, is also available, awarding smaller grants to smaller businesses.”
Mr Lochhead added: “Scotland is great in agriculture, great in food and we have a fantastic natural environment.
“It is time to make the most of these assets. Agritourism is central to them all.”