The Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector is now open and accepting applications.
The scheme is intended to assist in the development of the horticulture sector, including beekeeping, by grant aiding capital investments in specialised plant and equipment, including renewable energy, as well as technology specific to commercial horticulture production.
This scheme aids existing producers and new entrants to horticulture at a rate of up to 40% on all approved investments, with qualifying young farmers and licensed organic growers receiving up to 50% grant aid.
The objectives under the scheme include facilitating the adoption of new technologies; facilitating the horticulture sector to develop an approach focusing on “environmental dividends”, efficiency and growth; and facilitating investment in climate change mitigation.
The scheme also aims to improve growers’ competitiveness and contribute to the improvement of agricultural incomes and thereby the long-term viability of horticultural enterprises.
The Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector covers all horticultural areas including field vegetables (including seed potatoes), mushrooms, protected food crops, amenity crops, soft fruit, apples, and beekeeping.
The closing date for applications under the scheme is Friday, December 13.
Commenting on the scheme, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue said: “Horticulture is the fourth largest agriculture sector in Ireland and the National Strategy for Horticulture 2023-2027, which was launched last year, sets out a roadmap on how we can steer the sector to a more profitable value-added future, driven by sustainability and innovation.
“One of the strategy’s ambitions was to sustainably grow the potato sector and to achieve this, growers need access to high grade seed potatoes,” the minister added.
“This has been a major challenge for potato growers following the exit of the UK from the EU and, to address that demand, I am pleased to announce that seed potato growers will now be eligible to apply for grant aid for specialised seed potato investments under the scheme.”
Meanwhile, Minister of State for land use and biodiversity Pippa Hackett said: “Government is strongly committed to the vision set out in the National Strategy for Horticulture 2023-2027 for a more profitable, value-added sector, driven by sustainability and innovation.
“The Scheme of Investment Aid is a key lever in making that vision a reality, and I am very pleased that we are in a position to grant aid capital investments that will make a real difference to Irish growers,” Minister Hackett added.
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