Farming and fishing to get £1.1m extra funding

Deputy Kirsten Morel said current government support for farming was the "barest minimum"

Jersey's farming and fishing industries will get an extra £1.1m in government funding in 2025 and 2026, according to the minister for Sustainable Economic Development.

Deputy Kirsten Morel said the money was to help farmers and fishers with the increase in the minimum wage.

He said it would be distributed through the Rural Support Scheme, where businesses could apply for grants with rural credits gained through progressive farming techniques.

He added he was aware current government support for the farming industry was the "barest minimum".

Loan scheme launched

"We're at a level of support that enables farmers to see a future... but it's likely that support will need to increase over time," he said.

Morel said future governments would have to debate how much more support was given to agricultural industries but "financially I think we need to push it up a bit further".

Morel also said the island's agricultural loan scheme had officially been launched.

In September, politicians approved plans to reduce the interest rate charged to farmers who borrowed money from the government from 6.5% to 3%.

Morel said the scheme would help farmers with the "enormous capital expenditure they have to cope with".