By Jim Millar

Four new agritourism monitor farms will be formally announced by Deputy First Minister Shona Robison at next month’s Scottish Agritourism Conference taking place in Perth on 21st and 22nd November.

Almost forty farming and crofting businesses applied to become the new monitor farming businesses, with applications being made from every part of rural Scotland. Applications have now closed and the shortlist for on farm interviews are currently underway across the country.

Eleven businesses are being interviewed about their future plans for agritourism and farm retail growth. A final four will be selected by a panel. Of the successful businesses, one will be located in the Highlands and Islands Enterprise Area, one in the South of Scotland Enterprise Area and two in the Scottish Enterprise Area.

In addition, forty businesses will be supported as part of the Core Community Group, receiving targeted support and advice. Based on the quality of applications received, all of the monitor farm applicants who will not become the monitor farmers, will be able to take up a place on the Core Community Group.

The Agritourism Monitor Farms Programme represents a three-year investment made by the Scottish Government to support the delivery of growth targets as set out in Scotland’s National Agritourism Strategy including bringing around three hundred new farms and crofts into the sector and increasing the value of the sector to £250 million per annum.

The Deputy First Minister is responsible for the Rural Delivery Plan and agritourism is set to continue to play a key part in the sustainable growth of rural Scotland. After announcing the new monitor farming families and welcoming them to the stage, Ms Robison will take part in a panel discussion with representatives from the Agritourism Implementation Board.

Caroline Millar, Facilitator for the new programme said “The new programme is off to a great start with double the number of applicants coming forwarded than we expected. The quality of businesses applying and the variety of ideas and innovation being presented is extremely impressive and we are now visiting the short-listed businesses across Scotland. We are looking forward to the national agritourism conference next month where the Deputy First Minister will formally announce the new monitor farming families.”

Tickets for Scotland’s Agritourism Conference which takes place on Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd November can be found at https://ScotAgConf23.eventbrite.co.uk