CHINESE CONSULATE DELEGATION VISITS LOUGH NEAGH FARM
The Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Cllr Henry Cushinan joined Gerry Darby of Lough Neagh Partnership to welcome Consul General Mr Li Nan to a farm in the Lough Neagh catchment. The visit provided Mr Nan with an opportunity to see firsthand the achievements of an environmental farm programme which the farm owners have been undertaking for a decade.
A decade of environmental farming
Speaking after the visit, Gerry Darby of Lough Neagh Partnership, said: “Through Lough Neagh Partnership, the DAERA Environmental Group Farm Schemes (EGFS) programme has been a decade in the making and has delivered more than £5.1 million of investment transforming how hundreds of hectares of farmland around the Lough are managed.
“I believe that arranging this visit and welcoming Mr Nan to see firsthand examples of the practical measures that have been taken and changes that have been made, literally from the ground up, on this farm, to enhance its environment and habitat now and for generations to come, is of significant importance in demonstrating sustainable approaches to farming and environmental protection.
“We have been able to transfer knowledge of the experience of Lough Neagh farmers with an international audience and showcase how farmers, environmental organisations and government can work together to protect natural habitats and improve water quality.”
Sharing knowledge on sustainable agriculture
The visit formed part of a wider knowledge exchange focused on sustainable agriculture, environmental protection and the importance of working with farmers to deliver positive change across the Lough Neagh catchment.
Continued support for nature-friendly farming
Gerry Darby added: “Such has been the success of this decade-long programme, that farmers involved in the Lough Neagh EGFS are now eligible to continue to apply for environmental funding through Lough Neagh Partnership, providing further assistance to the farming community as they continue to adopt more nature-friendly farming practices.”
Lough Neagh Partnership continues to work with farmers, government, environmental organisations and other stakeholders to support nature-friendly farming practices and develop a catchment-wide approach to protecting the Lough and its surrounding environment.
