Hurry, BDG Scheme Closing for Applications

March 1, 2019

CAFRE has announced that new applications to the Business Development Groups (BDG) scheme must be submitted before 4pm on Tuesday 5 March 2019.

Eric Long, Head of the Knowledge Advisory Service at CAFRE, encourages all eligible farmers to apply.

He said, “With the application window for Business Development Groups closing in the next few days, I would encourage farmers and growers to apply to the scheme before the closing date on Tuesday 5 March at 4pm.”

Business Development Groups (BDG) aim to improve the technical and business efficiency of farm businesses, and working in groups encourages farmers to learn from each other. Independent research showed that farmers in discussion groups were up to 20% more likely to adopt new technologies and best management practices and as a result, achieve higher profit margins.

Each BDG member will be offered the opportunity to attend a number of group training events each year, benchmark the performance of their business and produce a development plan tailored to their farm. Sharing their farm performance information with other group members and hosting a group training event are very important elements of the scheme.

Business Development Groups are open to all farmers who are interested in improving the efficiency of their farm, working together, sharing ideas and learning how other farmers solve problems. Business Development Groups will help give farmers the skills to assess how their farm is performing and plan for the future development of their business.

The Business Development Groups Scheme is part-funded by the EU through the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020.

For further information visit here or call 028 9442 6790 or e-mail kt.admin@daera-ni.gov.uk.