Northern Ireland’s Business Development Groups (BDG) scheme will reopen for a further tranche of newcomers.
This year’s scheme will see the addition of a new ‘Environmental Farming’ option.
The new option will provide farmers and growers with the opportunity to discuss how they can bring about environmental benefits by managing their land to enhance biodiversity, water quality and air quality.
Applications must be submitted by 4:00pm on January 24, 2020.
Many farm businesses have benefitted from participating in the BDG scheme since its launch in 2015.
The scheme is designed to bring small groups of farmers together locally, to enhance their knowledge of business management, new technologies and innovative ways of working.
What’s involved?
The Business Development Groups scheme was launched in November 2015 and today there are over 140 groups in operation.
Each group includes around 20 like-minded farmers who will meet six times a year to focus on topics they choose.
The group are managed by a dedicated facilitator and activities include on-farm meetings, demonstrations and skills training.
How to apply?
For further information on the Business Development Groups scheme visit the CAFRE website on: www.cafre.ac.uk/business-development-groups. Alternatively, those interested can telephone on: 028-9442-6790; or e-mail: [email protected].
Knowledge Transfer through Business Development Groups (BDG) is a scheme partly funded by the EU through the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020.
The scheme is facilitated through the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE).
