The 2019 scheme for horticulture development was opened today, October 31, by Minister of State Andrew Doyle.

Minister Doyle, who has special responsibility for horticulture in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, said that the scheme was set up partly as a response to both the challenges and opportunities resulting from Brexit.

The so-called Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector is open to all horticultural enterprises – including field vegetables, mushrooms, protected food crops, amenity crops and soft fruit.

The department says that the scheme will provide grant aid at a rate of 40% for approved capital investments. Applications for a grant must be made by December 19.

Last year, when the department started taking applications for this year’s grant, horticulture farmers had to submit a business plan, their latest set of accounts and up-to-date quotations to the department.

“Last year, Ireland’s horticulture sector contributed over €430 million to the value of output at farm-gate level and is estimated to be directly responsible for over 6,600 jobs with many more employed indirectly both upstream and downstream,” said Minster Doyle.

The annual budget for the scheme has been increased by €1 million to €6 million for 2019 reflecting this Government’s commitment to the sector, especially in light of the emerging challenges and potential opportunities arising from Brexit.

“The sector has strong potential for growth, and Brexit may provide opportunities for some sectors within the industry, although it also presents challenges; most notably for the mushroom sector given its dependence on the UK market,” added the minister.