FARMERS in North Yorkshire will receive a boost of £3.4 million over the next five years as part of an ongoing scheme to rejuvenate the industry.

Yorkshire Forward is utilising Government cash in a scheme to encourage innovation in farming.

Administered by North Yorkshire County Council, the project aims to improve access to other funding sources.

The first project approved under the programme is the appointment of Nick White as agricultural development officer.

He said: "We are all aware that there are many and varied challenges which face the farming businesses and their communities.

"By no means the least of these is gaining access to the various funds available under the England Rural Development Programme and other programmes."

Mr White will be the first point of contact for anyone interested in applying for a Single Regeneration Budget grant.

Applications for grants can come from members of the farming community, their agents or other public, private and community partnerships. Projects in the fishing sector are also welcome to apply for funding.

These will be looked at by the North Yorkshire County Council programme delivery team and presented to the North Yorkshire agricultural partnership. The partnership meets every two months to make decisions on awards.

Grants will be based on need, but are expected to cover 25 to 50 per cent of the costs of approved projects.

"This is a very valuable programme for North Yorkshire and I am sure that there are projects being developed in the county which could be given vital support from this funding," Mr White told the Evening Press.

The SRB Agricultural Prog-ramme has already funded a number of projects throughout North Yorkshire.

These include a full-time rural stress co-ordinator and a forum to link local food producers to customers.

Eligible projects must support the objectives of the SRB's delivery plan.

For further information phone 01609 532974.

Updated: 09:34 Tuesday, February 11, 2003