To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what support her Department can offer farmers in East Londonderry to engage with and participate in Northern Ireland’s Year of Food and Drink 2016.

You will be aware that the Year of Food and Drink 2016 (YoF&D 2016) is a cross-departmental initiative led by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

My Department is supporting the YoF&D 2016 in a number of ways. There are activities being planned by the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) at Loughry Campus. In addition to this, my Department is providing funding through the Regional Food Programme (RFP).

The RFP supports projects/events/activities delivered by ‘not for profit’ agri-food groups which are representative of local producers (including farmers) and/or processors which will promote local agri-food products.

Examples of some of the events that are being supported by the RFP during the YoF&D 2016 include the Food Pavilion at Balmoral Show 2016, Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend, the NI Potato Festival at the Giant’s Causeway and the Food Pavilion at Ballymoney Show.

I would encourage farmers in your constituency to get involved in any of the activities that are taking place within their local area. In particular the Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend will be taking place on 18th – 19th June 2016. This initiative, which is in its fourth year, aims to increase the level of understanding of food production and the work of our farmers amongst members of the public. By demonstrating the farm to fork supply chain, the initiative reconnects visitors with farmers, food producers, processors and the countryside and educates them on the key role played by the agri-food sector in our economy. This initiative is led by the Ulster Farmers’ Union and further details can be found at http://www.openfarmweekend.com/Open-My-Farm.aspx.

It is my hope that the Year of Food and Drink 2016 will leave a lasting positive legacy for our agri-food industry.