Less Favoured Area payments will start arriving in bank accounts from today, Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead has confirmed.

The Scottish Government has now authorised payment of 9,900 claims to farmers and crofters working in some of the most challenging conditions in Europe, worth £55.4 million – 85 per cent of the total funding for the scheme.

The Scottish government said changes to the scheme, developed in response to industry requests, have been made to better target LFASS payments by improving links between payment and level of activity.

On announcing that payment would begin today, Mr Lochhead said,“While this winter has been much less challenging for the whole country than last year, I know farmers and crofters have still had to contend with significant input costs and perhaps even more so for those farming in those areas of natural disadvantage.

“I am sure this start to payments under the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme will be welcomed as it means that an extra £55 million is about to start arriving in our rural communities, providing a welcome boost. This is only the start of the process and I have asked my officials to pay the remaining amounts as soon as possible."

The Less Favoured Areas in Scotland represent about 85 per cent of the agricultural area.  In England, LFA accounts for around 15 per cent of the agricultural area.

Tweet