Whitty gives farming £2.5 million boost - UK - Ministers today pledged the first instalment of a planned £2.5 million five-year grant to boost efforts to help farmers work together to get more competitive and profitable.

English Farming and Food Partnerships (EFFP), which helps to promote collaboration and cooperation between farmers and the rest of the food chain, will get £500,000 this year with the government intending to provide funding at the same level in each of the next four years.

Defra's new grant will pay for a range of activities to be agreed between Ministers and EFFP.

Farming and Food Minister Larry Whitty told an EFFP conference on Collaborating for Profit:

"EFFP is there to help farmers be more profitable. The government wants EFFP to succeed, and wants our farmers to succeed.

"A stronger, more efficient farming industry able to respond better to the needs of its customers and to take advantage of a growing international market will benefit the whole food chain and related rural businesses.

"With the support of EFFP, government and regional bodies England's farmers can be competitive at home and abroad, and deliver the economic, social and environmental benefits we all want to see."

Source: Defra - 4th May 2004