The Rural Development Programme (RDP) is aimed at improving the economic, social and environmental conditions in rural areas throughout Northern Ireland.

It brings together a wide range of support schemes and programmes for the farming, forestry and primary processing sectors, rural enterprise and business development, diversification and rural tourism.

The Rural Development Programme will help to improve the quality of life in rural areas by supporting a wide range of activities. These include diversification into non-agricultural activities, support for business creation, encouragement of tourism activities, village renewal, basic services for rural communities and development and conservation and upgrading of the rural heritage.

It can help you to:

Get advice about what you are doing

Overcome the hurdles in setting up a new business

Improve your financial and environmental sustainability

Diversify into new enterprises

Develop new skills

Add value and develop new products and markets

Work collectively with others to develop new opportunities

Support is available under the following themes referred to as ‘axes’:

•  Axis 1 - Improving the competitiveness of agriculture and forestry by supporting restructuring, development and innovation
• Axis 2 - Improving the environment and countryside by supporting land management
• Axis 3 - Improving the quality of life in rural areas and encouraging diversification of economic activity

Axis 1: 5 of the 8 measures will be delivered through the Countryside Agri-Rural Partnership with the remaining 3 measures being delivered through DARD.  For further information please visit www.rdpni.info.  Axis 2 is being delivered by DARD.

ARC North West will be responsible for implementing Axis 3 ‘Rural Life’ in the North West made up of the rural Council Areas of  Derry City Council, Limavady Borough Council, Omagh District Council and Strabane District Council.
If you would like to find out more about the Rural Development Programme visit http://www.rdpni.info/