Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail any support that will be provided to the farming community affected by the exceptional wet weather conditions. [Priority Written]
Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs: At this stage, a support package for the farming community affected by the exceptional wet weather conditions is not planned, however I am continuing to monitor the situation.
The SAP’s Farm Sustainability Payment Scheme is designed to improve the resilience of farm businesses and help withstand ‘shocks’ that are beyond their ability to manage effectively, encouraging businesses to become more environmentally sustainable and efficient.
A Crisis Framework is being developed as part of the Sustainable Agriculture Programme (SAP) This framework will provide a pre-defined approach for government intervention in the event of a significant crisis impacting the agricultural sector in Northern Ireland.
The SAP is a strong example of climate adaptation action being progressed by my Department, as we work with and support our agricultural sector to be resilient to the more frequent and severe impacts brought by climate change. As such, delivery of the SAP is a key action in the draft Northern Ireland’s third Climate Change Adaptation Programme (NICCAP3), which my Department has developed, with input from all Departments.
As a cross-cutting Programme with more than 280 actions to build climate resilience, the NICCAP3 requires Executive agreement. I am currently engaging with my Executive colleagues to seek their agreement to finalise NICCAP3 and lay it in this Assembly as soon as possible.
ENDS
Your MLA 