An additional €350,000 in funding has been allocated to Ireland’s Social Farming Network, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, recently announced.
Minister Creed made the announcement today, July 25, at the launch of the network project in Co. Leitrim.
Speaking at Loch Aedin Social Farm, he said: “The concept of social farming – giving people, who are availing of a range of health service supports, the opportunity to participate in farming or horticulture activities in their local area – fosters inclusion.
“It helps participants to build self-esteem, confidence and improve their health and well-being.
For participating farm families and local communities, social farming has proved a very worthwhile and satisfying activity which contributes to community development.
“For these reasons, I want to ensure that this concept is developed and encouraged through the Social Farming Network.”
The ambition is to grow a network for social farming in Ireland, Minister Creed explained. It is hoped the network’s national support office, based in Drumshambo, would co-ordinate four regional hubs.
These hubs would then assist with the promotion and delivery of social farming in Ireland, in support of both participants and farmers, he added.
Initial funding of €400,000 was provided last year by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for the establishment of the Social Farming Network across Ireland; the department has recently extended the contract for a further 12-month period.
Minister Creed believes this additional funding will “ensure progression for the project as it beds down and becomes self-sustaining”.
These types of initiatives are run in a number of settings – ranging from working family farms, to local community initiatives and through to more institutional frameworks, the department added.
The minister also announced funding of €130,000 under the Rural Innovation and Development Fund for pilot projects aimed at reducing food waste generated by food businesses in rural areas.