Calls for removal of income bar on grants
THE BOARD of Smallholding Scotland has called on Fergus Ewing, the cabinet secretary for rural economy and connectivity, to remove the income bar on the Small Farm Grant Scheme (SFGS).
According to the chairwoman of Smallholding Scotland, Rosemary Champion, the scheme is a welcome addition to the current round of CAP.
Ms Champion said: ‘But the imposition of an income bar has prevented many smallholders from accessing the funding to improve their holdings. With only a limited time period remaining, we’re asking Mr Ewing to remove it, making the resources more accessible and bringing the scheme into line with other CAP schemes.’
No other CAP scheme, including the Crofting Agricultural Grant Scheme on which the SFGS is based, has an income bar for applicants.
The SFGS was introduced in 2015 but uptake has been poor. In the 22 months of operation from January 1, 2015, to the end of October 2016, less than two per cent of the money available was allocated, although uptake in the subsequent period is believed to have improved slightly.
Ms Champion added: ‘Many smallholders are already excluded from agricultural support because of the three-hectare minimum area. Further exclusion on the grounds of income limits their capacity to invest in small farm businesses.
‘Many smallholders must have off-farm employment to pay the bills – just like crofters - so the same rules should apply. The Scottish Government has said that it supports small-scale farming so we’re confident that it will step up to the mark and do the right thing.’
Smallholding Scotland is a Scottish charitable organisation, set up in 2017 to support and represent Scottish smallholders.
More information can be found on the organisation’s website smallholding.scot.