News Brief
Farming Fund’s Successful Projects Announced
The Minister of Agriculture, the Hon Jim Sutton, recently announced that the first contracts for funding from the Sustainable Farming Fund have been signed and the successful projects can now go ahead.
In announcing the successful contracts, the Minister said the event gave him real pleasure because it represented the Government’s recognition and his long-held view of the importance of rural communities and their viability.
The aim of the fund is to help rural communities or groups in the sustainable use of land-based resources. It provides money for projects that bring together communities to address problems, enable access to information, technology or tools, or improve the community economic base.
Launched last September, the first funding round attracted more than 350 applications. Of these, 34 have been selected and will now receive funding. For more information on the first grants announced, see www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/issues/sustain/other.htm.
“The large number and wide variety of applications showed the extent of the activity among rural groups and communities for innovative, practical and problem-solving proposals,” the Minister said.
The fund provides a percentage of the costs and individual projects can be up to three years’ duration. The total amount provided per project, per year, is up to $200,000. Total funding allocated in the first funding round was over $4 million.
A second funding round was opened in February for projects ready to become operational from July 2001. This round was open to smaller projects under $10,000 and water management issues previously funded from other sources. This year over $8 million is available for projects of up to three years’ duration. The deadline for applications for the second funding round was 5pm on Thursday 15 March 2001.
“I am delighted with the response so far to the Fund, as it confirms this Government’s policy of commitment to support rural New Zealand,” Minister Jim Sutton said.
Copies of the application form and guidelines will be sent to potential applicants on request by contacting the fund at tel: 0800 100 087, fax: 04 460 8781, email sffund@maf.govt.nz, or from MAF’s website at www.maf.govt.nz/sff
Sustainable Farming Fund
C/- Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Tel: 0800 100 087 Fax: 04 460 8781 Email: sffund@maf.govt.nz
Contact for Enquiries
Amber Duncalfe
Editor - RM Update
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Tel: +64 4 894 0710
Fax: +64 4 894 0745
Contact this person
