merrion street

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine today announced a further request for qualified agriculture advisors who wish to express an interest in acting as facilitators for Poultry, Tillage or Sheep groups under the Knowledge Transfer Programme.
This Programme is one of a suite of knowledge transfer measures included in the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 and will consist of support for Knowledge Transfer Groups across the Beef, Sheep, Dairy, Poultry, Tillage and Equine sectors.
Those interested may log their expression of interest up until Friday 25th of March 2016.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
An expression of interest process has already been held for facilitators of Knowledge Transfer Groups in the Poultry, Tillage and Sheep sectors. This process is now being reopened for a very short period following feedback from stakeholders.
The Knowledge Transfer Group scheme design has been guided by experiences from previous Dairy Advisory Schemes and Beef and Sheep Discussion Groups and follows extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders. The scheme builds significantly on the discussion group model and is designed in such a way as to ensure that the farmer and advisor engage in one to one discussion on key aspects of a farmers’ business. Such areas shall include profitability and financial management, farm health and safety, environmental sustainability, breeding and animal health.
Each approved Knowledge Transfer Facilitator must prepare for and hold a minimum of 5 Knowledge Exchange meetings each year and oversee the preparation and submission of a FIP for each participating farmer. Facilitators will also be responsible for confirming the completion of scheme requirements by participating farmers. This will be completed via a dedicated online system using their existing online registration details. New facilitators will be required to register with the Department’s online system.
Participating Knowledge Transfer facilitators require a minimum of an NFQ level 8 Agriculture Science Degree, have Indemnity Insurance and must be willing to undertake Facilitator Training and related Continuous Professional Development Training as provided by the Department over the duration of the programme.
Further information is available by telephone from the Innovation Unit in Portlaoise on 0761064457 or via email at KTInformation@agriculture.gov.ie