Farming plays a key role in fulfilling the key objectives of the NEK Vision which will involve landholders in changes to their businesses and farming practices over the long term. Farmers are presently having to cope with a raft of new regulations and subsidy rules.
NEK commissioned a feasibility study to look at setting up a rural advice service based on the successful Kent Downs Rural Advisory Scheme (KDRAS) seeking to support farmers through these changes and offer fully integrated advice which would help them in making sound and sustainable environmental and business decisions.
The scoping report for NEK looked at the range of farming practices and businesses in East Kent, the demand for support for 'diversification' and the type of help that farmers are identifying that they most require to ensure their sustainability as viable farming businesses.
