$11.75m for Sustainable Farming Fund

11 November 2008

$11.75m for Rural Projects – MAF’s Sustainable Farming Fund Opens

On Friday 14 November, the new funding round for the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s (MAF’s) Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) opens.

Each year the SFF grants up to $9.5 million to farmer, grower and forester-led groups for projects which contribute to the sustainable growth of New Zealand’s land-based primary industries. An additional $2.25 million is dedicated to projects that focus on climate change – through adaptation, mitigation or business opportunities.

Fund Manager, Denis Packer says, "The Sustainable Farming Fund will be looking for proposals which deliver economic, environmental and social benefits to primary industries and rural communities. Projects can cover shared problems, developing new opportunities or sharing best practice.”

Applications for 2009/10 round are due by 5 February 2009. Interest is expected to be high.

“The fund has been a great success. More than 600 projects have been supported from across the horticultural, agricultural and forestry sectors,” says Mr Packer.

“Projects have ranged from pasture development to pest control, irrigation to information sharing and innovative production schemes. Projects have been funded throughout the country from the Far North to Southland.”

For more information, or to discuss the type of projects which are funded and potential applications, contact a MAF SFF project adviser.

Their contact details, application forms, guidelines, criteria, and information about previously funded projects will be posted on www.maf.govt.nz/sff from 14 November.

ENDS

The details of all previous fund recipients are on the website www.maf.govt.nz/sff.

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