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Agri-environment Schemes

Two Schemes are available under the N.Ireland Rural Development Programme 2007-13:
  • N. Ireland Countryside Management Scheme
  • Organic Farming Scheme
These are part- financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).
The budget available for these two Schemes is £220 million, and the target is to have 50 percent of agricultural land under environmental enhancement agreement by 2013.This equates to around 18,000 farm businesses.
N. Ireland Countryside Management Scheme (NICMS)
This new Scheme opened in 2008. It is a voluntary Scheme, providing financial encouragement to enhance the environment.
NICMS aims to:
  • improve biodiversity
  • improve water quality
  • mitigate climate change
  • improve soil quality
  • avoid marginalisation and land abandonment.
Organic Farming Scheme (OFS)
This Scheme is to encourage farmers to convert to organic farming to meet the demand for organic food and enhance the environment.
Both NICMS and OFS will be open during this Rural Development Programme. Application periods will be announced in the Press.  Full details of these Schemes, including Scheme requirements, application process and payment rates are available at agri-environment publications.
Previous Agri-Environment schemes
The following two Agri-Environment Schemes are closed to new applicants:
  • Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme
  • Countryside Management Scheme
Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme (ESA)
This was the first Agri-Environment Scheme in N.Ireland – launched back in 1988. Landowners in the Areas designated as Environmentally Sensitive  (20% of the agricultural land area ) can apply to NICMS.
Countryside Management Scheme (CMS)
This Scheme was introduced in 2000 and was targeted at those landowners outside the Environmentally Sensitive Areas.
For more information on both these Schemes, including a DVD of the first 10 years of the Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme, see agri-environment publications.
Existing participants in both these Schemes can apply for NICMS.However priority will be given to these in designated areas e.g. Natura 2000 sites and where existing agreements have run out.