The number of applications made for a scheme aimed at women farmers under the new Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) has increased by almost 70%.
Data provided by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) to Agriland shows that there were 438 applications made for Women Farmer Capital Investment Scheme (WFCIS) under tranche 2 of TAMS 3.
This marks an increase of 179 when compared with the 259 applications made for the scheme under tranche 1.
However, it should be noted that the WFCIS was the final scheme to open in tranche 1 of TAMS 3 which limited time for applications to be lodged.
The department has said the WFCIS aims to promote gender equality, employment, growth, generation renewal and social inclusion by supporting the participation of women in farming, the department said.
Under the scheme, grant aid is paid at the rate of 60% up to a maximum of €90,000/holding.
TAMS
Overall, 9,110 applications were made by farmers across the 10 measures offered under TAMS 3 in tranche 2; this is up from 8,203 (+11%) made in the first application round.
The Farm Safety Capital Investment Scheme (FSCIS) had the highest number of applications under tranche 2 at 3,113.
This is up by 52% or 1,063 on the 2,050 applications made to DAFM in tranche 1.
2,200 applications were made for the Animal Welfare Nutrient Storage Scheme, which was the most popular scheme under tranche 1 with 2,494 applications.
Several other measures recorded a drop in applications in tranche 2 including the Organic Capital Investment Scheme (OCIS), Solar Capital Investment Scheme and the Dairy Equipment Scheme.
The scheme with the lowest number of applications is again the Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme with 44 applications.
The following table provides a full breakdown of the applications made for each scheme by farmers under both tranches of TAMS 3:
Scheme Tranche 1 applications Tranche 2 applications Animal Welfare Nutrient Storage Scheme 2,494 2,200 Dairy Equipment Scheme 235 217 Farm Safety Capital Investment Scheme 2,050 3,113 Low Emission Slurry Spreading 551 756 Organic Capital Investment Scheme 928 634 Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme 49 46 Solar Capital Investment Scheme 751 738 Tillage Capital Investment Scheme 445 444 Women Farmer Capital Investment Scheme 259 438 Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme 441 524 Total 8,203 9,110
These applications are currently being assessed by department staff and farmers or their advisors are being contacted to address any issues that arise.
Similar to tranche 1, a priority approval mechanism is available for those farmers who require urgent approval to proceed with works.
“Applicants or their advisors can contact their department of agriculture local office in this regard.
“Their application will then be assessed to determine whether there is an urgent need to issue approval, and prioritised accordingly,” a DAFM spokesperson said.