merrion street

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, today launched the €100m Knowledge Transfer Group Scheme. The Scheme is co-funded by the National Exchequer and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development as part of Ireland’s €4bn Rural Development Programme, 2014-2020.

Knowledge Transfer Groups will be implemented for some 27,000 farmers across 6 sectors – Beef, Sheep, Dairy, Tillage, Equine and Poultry. These groups will provide a key support to the agri-food sector in building its knowledge and skills base to underpin continued growth and competitiveness.

Minister Creed outlined “the scheme builds significantly on the previous Discussion Group model and is designed in such a way as to ensure the farmer and advisor engage in one to one discussion on key aspects of a farmer’s business such as controlling input costs, , environmental sustainability, breeding and herd health. This one to one engagement will be complemented by group based discussion and the sharing of experience and information between farmers.”

Knowledge Transfer Groups will run for a period of three years, and form part of an integrated package of supports to be delivered under the Rural Development Programme.

Minister Creed added “the Government’s continued support for the range of measures contained in the Rural Development Programme underline its commitment to facilitate farmers in addressing sustainability, productivity and competitiveness challenges. Helping farmers pursue best practice can only help to serve continued efforts in protecting and improving farmer’s incomes.”

Another significant benefit of the scheme the Minister has noted is the socialisation element of the scheme. Minister Creed continued “rural isolation has long been a factor in contributing to mental health issues amongst farmers. Schemes such as this which encourage interaction on an on-going basis are a useful tool in the battle against this significant problem.”

Knowledge Transfer Groups will be delivered to farmers by qualified facilitators, with the first Groups expected to be approved in June. To support the roll out of the Scheme, the Department has put in place a schedule of information sessions for farmers and facilitators as follows:

Date County Venue
Monday
23rd May 2016 Mayo Breaffy House Hotel, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
Tuesday
24th May 2016 Tipperary KT Equine only:
Horse and Jockey, Thurles, Co. Tipperary
Wednesday
25th May 2016 Limerick / Tipperary Ballykisteen Hotel, Limerick Junction, Co Tipperary
Thursday
26th May 2016 Mullingar Mullingar Park Hotel, Dublin Road, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
Monday
30th May 2016 Galway Raheen Woods Hotel, Athenry, Co. Galway
Tuesday
31st May 2016 Cork Silver Springs Hotel, Tivoli, Co. Cork
Wednesday
1st June Carlow Seven Oaks Hotel, Athy Road, Co. Carlow

Separate Knowledge Transfer Information Sessions will be run for facilitators from 2.30pm until 4.30pm and for farmers from 7pm until 8.30pm on each day.

Approved facilitators can submit participant details of Knowledge Transfer Groups for approval at www.agriculture.gov.ie/agfood
Terms and Conditions and application forms for the Scheme are now available at: http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/farmerschemespayments/knowledgetransferprogramme/