Environment Minister Michael Russell has outlined a positive future for crofting in Scotland in his first major keynote speech on the subject, made at the annual conference of the Scottish Crofters Foundation.
As well as pledging new resources of £100,000 to improve the quality of life of rural crofting communities, which allows them access to the new Scottish Rural Development Programme, Russell gave support to work being carried out by the Committee of Inquiry into crofting.
After strong representations from the Scottish Crofters Foundation, Russell indicated that he would allow the continuation of the crofting bull hire arrangements into 2008 so that assessments of future options can be decided.
Additionally, Russell asked the Crofters Commission to formally appraise the investment needed to modernise the government’s stud farms and requested that the Crofting Committee of Inquiry advise whether the best way of achieving the Government’s vision for crofting is through the Crofters Cattle Quality Improvement Scheme.
Previously, the scheme has provided the loan of quality bulls to groups of crofters to enable them to improve local livestocks.
Russell said: "Crofting has a vital role to play in sustaining vibrant populations in Scotland's less accessible areas, in maintaining thriving communities and enabling their populations to flourish.
"I want to see more communities pursuing whether ownership of the land on which they live and work is right for them. I want to see invigorated, viable communities with adequate infrastructure and quality livestock.
"Communities must also be skilled and ready to bid effectively for new style development contracts under the rural development plan which should come on stream at the end of this year."
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