South East Leitrim Farmers Group / Tempo Farmers Group Projects

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Farmers in South Leitrim and in the Tempo area of Fermanagh took part in two projects the first was a three year project which the farmers are confident has delivered many economic and social benefits to them. Seventy two farm families took part in the South East Leitrim and Tempo Farmers Group Business Development Project which received €250,000 of grant funds and the farm businesses matched it with equal investment themselves. During the project each participating farmer was provided with small scale funding of €2,000 each to implement a business development plan on their farm to improve the quality of breeding stock, farm health and safety and animal welfare. The farmers also met on seven occasions to share knowledge, experiences and develop an understanding and relationship with each other on a crossborder basis. The bulk buying projects of both groups were also consolidated through the efforts of the Project Co-coordinator Mr. Adrian Mc Keague and Administrator Mrs. Helen Faughnan. An evaluation of the project concluded that participating farm businesses have reduced their costs of production through bulk buying activity. The two groups of farmers have benefited from sharingideas on production and marketing of their livestock and on farm health and safety and animal welfare on their farms. They have also become much more aware of the difficulties and differences of carrying on a farm business on different sides of the border. The groups have also established a strong cross border management structure to carry on developing projects and supporting the farmers in both areas. They have also built close relationships between the farming community and various public and semi public bodies on both sides of the border. The Chairman of the Leitrim Group, Mr. Pat Monahan, said that this was a very valuable project as the funders allowed the groups to design and implement the project to respond to the needs of farm businesses in these challenging times. Mr. Philip McDonagh, the Chairman of the Tempo Group, said that the project delivered very sound support tothe farms while making it easy for them to take part and contribute to the success of the project.

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