What are the consequences for farmers who drop out of a KT Group?

Following recent comments from the INHFA (Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association) about the Knowledge Transfer (KT) Programme, a farmer got in touch with AgriLand to ask what exactly the consequences are if a farmer decides to pull out of a KT Group.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, farmers who withdraw from the €100 million KT Programme will firstly miss an opportunity for group learning.

This occurs through meetings facilitated by an agricultural consultant, which are complemented by tailored advice on a one-to-one basis to form an individualised Farm Improvement Plan.

It was stressed that the programme has been designed to address identified knowledge gaps in six agriculture sectors which, when bridged, should lead to increased efficiency, effectiveness and competitiveness – which benefit not just the individual farmers involved but also the agriculture sector as a whole.

The department warned that a farmer who withdraws from the programme does so for the remainder of the three year scheme, with no chance of re-joining the KT Group.

Depending on the extent to which commitments under the scheme have been met, there may be a financial impact for the farmer related to the €750 payment per scheme year – resulting in a reduced or nil payment for the scheme year in question.

No payment is due for subsequent years of the scheme, the department added.

Consequences for the facilitator

In terms of consequences for group facilitators, the withdrawal of a farmer affects a facilitator by reducing the overall number of members in the KT Group.

Where this number falls below the minimum of 12 members, a discussion between the department and the facilitator – in relation to the ongoing viability of the group – is required.

There could also be an impact on the 60% quorum required for a meeting, i.e. the 60% member attendance required for a valid meeting.

The facilitator payment of €500 per participant relates to time spent on meetings and one-to-one collaboration with individual farmers on the Farm Improvement Plan.

Where a farmer withdraws from the programme there is a consequent reduction in the time the facilitator spends on the group and thus the facilitator’s payment for that participant is reduced accordingly, the department added.