Rural Development Programme - Organic Farming Scheme

The Organic Farming Scheme is funded under Axis 2 of the Rural Development Programme and delivered by DARD. It aims to protect and enhance the rural environment and encourage and assist farmers to convert to organic farming to help meet consumer demand for organic produce.

The Scheme provides payments to help them with the additional costs and loss of income that occurs during the conversion period to organic production.

The Organic Farming Scheme is open to all farmers and land managers with a Business Identification Number (Business ID) and at least one hectare of horticultural land or at least three hectares of improved and semi-improved land.

The Scheme will open for applications in early 2010, and details will be available through the Rural Development Programme website, www.rdpni.info, and in the local press.