The Agriculture Minister, Michelle O’Neill accompanied by DARD officials will be hosting a meeting on the arrangements for the new CAP tonight(Thursday), March 5 in Lisnaskea.

Sinn Féin MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Michelle Gildernew has invited the farming community to the public meeting on the implementation of CAP Pillar 1 Single Farm Payments and CAP Pillar 2 Rural Development Programme to be held in the Donn Carragh Hotel, Lisnaskea starting at 7.30pm.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Ms Gildernew said: “The Single Farm Payment is absolutely vital for farmers across the country and the recent agreement on CAP reform and potential changes to the SFP has provoked a lot of interest among the farming community. Farmers are well aware that the current SFP is to be replaced with a new Basic Payment Scheme and they know of the requirement for ‘greening measures’ and active farmers but are uncertain about how this will impact upon their farming business and personal circumstances.

“The meeting will also provide an excellent opportunity to find out more about the Farm Business Improvement Scheme, the Young Farmers Scheme and other opportunities for rural communities.

“Now that most of the key decisions have been made, we feel it is important to go back to the farming community to discuss with them how these reforms might affect them.

“This is an opportunity for farmers and the wider rural community to ask questions and hear directly from the Minister and her officials about CAP reform and we extend an open invitation to everyone”.