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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the level of financial support in the EU for organic farming. [137272] Mr. Bradshaw: It is not possible to comment on the direct level of financial support available in other member states since the mix of land types and crops on which aid is based varies so greatly. The latest information we have on aid available elsewhere in the European Union however suggests that the recent increase in support payments being made available under the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS), which is part of the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP) and which encourages the expansion of organic production, is generally comparable to what is available elsewhere in the Community. Under the OFS, farmers moving from conventional to organic farming methods receive financial help during the conversion process. From 30 May, assistance is now also being made available under the scheme for existing organic farmers who comply with certain environmental measures. The following table shows Defra's spending in the financial year 2002-03 on financial and other support for organic farming: £ _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Category of support Total spend 2002-03 Financial support: Under the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) 12,567,000 Other support: Defra funding for the Organic Conversion 301,000 Information Service (OCIS) Defra funding for research for development purposes which includes 1,809,000 a large component dealing with research on organic farming _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

137272; 413 c302W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Finance EU grants and loans Organic farming Subsidies Organic farming scheme Organic Conversion Information Service

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk