Payments are to begin to issue to farmers in Northern Ireland who were successful in applying for the 2016 Area of Natural Constraint (ANC) Scheme.
Some 9,744 farmers have applied to the ANC Scheme.
The North’s Agriculture Minister, Michelle O’Neill, said that the target to pay 95% of eligible ANC payments by the end of March 2016 would be met.
These payments are a significant boost to the rural economy and in particular to those farmers who face constraints brought about by farming in less favoured areas, according to the North’s Department of Agriculture (DARD).
“The increase in the number of claims made via DARD’s online system in 2015 and the commitment of DARD staff has contributed to this payment performance.”
I would once again strongly encourage farmers to go online themselves or ask their agent or form filler to complete the claim online on their behalf.
“It’s a good way to avoid mistakes compared with paper and crucially it will speed up payments to farmers overall.”
Referring to the introduction of the new ANC scheme under the CAP Reform, the Minister said she is particularly pleased that the department has sustained such a high payment performance in a period of great transition and despite the challenges which CAP reform has presented for farmers and DARD staff.
DARD will continue to strive to clear the remaining payments as quickly as possible.
The ANC Scheme replaced the Less Favoured Area Compensatory Allowances (LFACA) Scheme and forms part of the Rural Development Programme (RDP),
It provides a payment to farmers in constrained areas to compensate for all or part of the additional costs and income forgone related purely to the constraints for agricultural production in the area.
The ANC budget is worth £20m and payment rates for 2016 are £56.47/ha of Severely Disadvantaged Area (SDA) up to 200ha. The rate then reduces to £42.35/ha.