Market Information Fund

The Market Information Fund has been established in response to a key recommendation of the 'Fit for Market' Strategy, currently being implemented by DARD and InvestNI with support from the Food Strategy Implementation Partnership, which identified the need for primary producers to be well informed of market trends and have access to the flow of current market information.

Farmers and growers can utilise the Market Information Fund in a number of ways to gather and disseminate information relevant to their business areas. Funding is available for:

Attendance at conferences and organised study tours held outside Northern Ireland
Funding for speakers at conferences held within Northern Ireland
Purchase of market information publications.

Established producer groups, farmer controlled businesses, farmer representative organisations or others acting on behalf of farmers and their growers are eligible to apply for access to the fund.

Application for any of the three elements will be required to outline how the market information will benefit producers. Apllication for funding, which is competitive, must be approved by the selection panel in advance of expenditure being committed.

Further details on the fund and how to apply can be obtained by contacting Sean McIntrye on 028 9076 5302 or e-mail sean.mcintyre@dardni.gov.uk, or Lynsay Wells on 028 8778 9770 or e-mail lynsay.wells@countrysideservices.com.