project - EIP-AGRI Operational Group
Cúlra Créafóige - Cultivation Renewal Programme
Cúlra Créafóige - Cultivation Renewal Programme
Objectives
This project aims to stimulate the vitality & socio-economic renewal by supporting & restoring small-scale farming enterprises in the area through upskilling & experimental cultivation activities.
To achieve the goals, the project will pursue the following specific objectives:
-Provide a template which utilises inactive livestock farm enterprise land parcels for alternative cultivation, re-engage livestock owners & others with the skills & benefits of cultivation.
-Monitor & assimilate all pertinent growing & market value data, upskill & train a variety of key local stakeholders.
-Create a positive local narrative & comfortable association between the community & cultivation activities.
Objectives
This project aims to stimulate the vitality & socio-economic renewal by supporting & restoring small-scale farming enterprises in the area through upskilling & experimental cultivation activities.
To achieve the goals, the project will pursue the following specific objectives:
-Provide a template which utilises inactive livestock farm enterprise land parcels for alternative cultivation, re-engage livestock owners & others with the skills & benefits of cultivation.
-Monitor & assimilate all pertinent growing & market value data, upskill & train a variety of key local stakeholders.
-Create a positive local narrative & comfortable association between the community & cultivation activities.
Activities
-Rehabilitate, plough and plant 4.86 hectares of fresh lands annually.
-Plant and closely monitor all aspects of the planted crops, namely Spring & Winter Oats, Gortahork Kale, Garlic, Linseed, Nettles, Comfrey and Chicory.
-Devise a coherent plan to implement all necessary aspects of this cultivation renewal programme.
-Acquire a detailed understanding of the key drivers of growth and the overall value of a variety of produce.
-Identify the required level of participant upskilling needed.
-Explore the community and micro-business benefits of cultivation activity.
Activities
-Rehabilitate, plough and plant 4.86 hectares of fresh lands annually.
-Plant and closely monitor all aspects of the planted crops, namely Spring & Winter Oats, Gortahork Kale, Garlic, Linseed, Nettles, Comfrey and Chicory.
-Devise a coherent plan to implement all necessary aspects of this cultivation renewal programme.
-Acquire a detailed understanding of the key drivers of growth and the overall value of a variety of produce.
-Identify the required level of participant upskilling needed.
-Explore the community and micro-business benefits of cultivation activity.
Additional information
Expected results and practical recommendations:
-Produce a reliable matrix of the crops most suitable to the growing conditions within the Parish of Cloich Cheann Fhaola.
-Tabulate the Value for Money aspects of a range of activities and growing regimes.
-Outline a template for Agri-Environment support, for small West of Ireland family farms, willing to re-engage with a mixed farm enterprise model or cultivation model.
-Identify the potential wider community benefits of cultivation, relating to landscape tourism, biodiversity benefits and social opportunities and upskilling.
-Maximise economies of scale across small farm units and deliver a broader output in term of produce.
Project details
- Main funding source
- Rural development 2014-2020 for Operational Groups
- Rural Development Programme
- 2014IE06RDNP001 Ireland - Rural Development Programme (National)
Emplacement
- Main geographical location
- Border
€ 583010
Total budget
Total contributions from EAFRD, national co-financing, additional national financing and other financing.
Project keyword
- Aquaculture
- Arable crops
- Organic farming
- Agro-ecology
- Crop rotation/crop diversification/dual-purpose or mixed cropping
- Fodder and feed
- Outdoor horticulture and woody crops (incl. viticulture, olives, fruit, ornamentals)
- Greenhouse crops
- Landscape/land management
- Soil
- Competitiveness/new business models
- Farm diversification
1 Practice Abstracts
The Gaeltacht Parish of Cloich Cheann Fhaola in Co. Donegal is recognised as having markedly poor socio-economic indicators. Recent census information and analysis by the All Ireland Research Observatory (AIRO) and Teagasc illustrates that the area has a declining population, high emigration rates, high unemployment levels and an ageing demographic. Furthermore, it has a terrestrial landscape that is primarily managed by small farmers with many land parcels either not in active agricultural production or heading towards farm abandonment. There has also been an almost complete abandonment of traditional cultivation and tillage practices within this small-scale farming landscape over the last forty years.
This project aims to stimulate the vitality and socio-economic renewal of Cloich Cheann Fhaola by supporting and restoring small-scale farming enterprises in the area through upskilling and experimental cultivation activities.
The Gaeltacht Parish of Cloich Cheann Fhaola in Co. Donegal is recognised as having markedly poor socio-economic indicators. Recent census information and analysis by the All Ireland Research Observatory (AIRO) and Teagasc illustrates that the area has a declining population, high emigration rates, high unemployment levels and an ageing demographic. Furthermore, it has a terrestrial landscape that is primarily managed by small farmers with many land parcels either not in active agricultural production or heading towards farm abandonment. There has also been an almost complete abandonment of traditional cultivation and tillage practices within this small-scale farming landscape over the last forty years.
This project aims to stimulate the vitality and socio-economic renewal of Cloich Cheann Fhaola by supporting and restoring small-scale farming enterprises in the area through upskilling and experimental cultivation activities.
Contacts
Project coordinator
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Lárionad Acmhainní Nádúrtha Ctr. (LAN) - Centre for Natural Resources
Project coordinator