A local farmer and his family have taken advantage of a new grant scheme and diversified into a new line of business, having spotted a gap in the market. Colin Henry of Devanah Farm, Llangadog, along with his wife and son, Steffan, has set up Tywi Hydraulics a mobile hydraulics repair service.
As hydraulic systems such as cranes, diggers and agricultural machinery are crucial for the completion of contractual works for potential clients, the new venture will mean they can get quick, on-site service if something breaks down. With the current economic climate as it is, this will help to avoid profits being affected.
The Henrys were successful in obtaining an RDP Sir Gâr Supporting Farmers to Diversify (SFD) grant of £3642 to set up. They used the funding towards purchasing equipment and a laptop and the family estimate it should increase the household income significantly in the first year of business.
Steffan said: “Financial risk is always a factor when starting a new business, but the support from SFD helped us to decide to go for it – and we are really pleased that we did!”
RDP Sir Gâr’s Supporting Farmers to Diversify grant aims to maintain and increase the income of farm households in rural Carmarthenshire, by providing the capital needed to enable farming families to diversify into non agricultural activity. Retaining young people in farming by helping them to develop alternative sources of income and alternative employment opportunities is also a key issue.
The scheme has received funding through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013 which is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
Funding of up to £75,000 is available for eligible projects to develop new enterprises, convert redundant buildings and purchase capital equipment. Diversification in to areas such as flower-arranging, catering, carpentry, tourism attractions, rental of farm buildings and online businesses – to name but a few – will be considered for grant assistance.
Farmers interested in developing new enterprises are encouraged to contact Alice James to discuss the eligibility of their project as soon as possible to ensure they don’t miss out.
For further details: Alice James, Physical Regeneration Project Officer on 01267 242334 or ADJames@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
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