Horticulture businesses in Wales could be missing out on valuable support by failing to register with Farming Connect.
Until March 2023, the sector was supported by Tyfu Cymru but that initiative ended and support for commercial horticulture transferred to the new Farming Connect programme.
However, many businesses are yet to register and that means they are losing out on a raft of support measures they are eligible to access.
Horticulture businesses, including those on sites that cover less than three hectares, are eligible for this support.
Sarah Gould, Farming Connect horticulture project manager, urged them to apply. She said, “As many horticulture businesses won’t be registered with Rural Payments Wales (RPW), registration should be the first step of the process. Once the business is issued with a customer reference number (CRN) from RPW they can then register with Farming Connect by contacting the service centre on 03456 000813.”
The support on offer can help growers take their businesses to the next level, including knowledge gained at events and webinars, from plant health, integrated pest management and preparing for changing weather patterns to understanding how to work effectively with supply chains.
There is also bespoke support on offer. Gould said, “Eligible businesses can access up to 12 hours of fully-funded customised business support to improve business and technical performance across all areas.”
With opportunities for new and existing growers in Wales, there is increasing interest in developing horticulture businesses.