An agricultural support organisation has launched an emergency funding programme to assist farming households experiencing economic strain due to extended periods of below-average rainfall.
The Farmers Charity RABI has established a £2 million fund for the initiative, with as much as £400,000 directed toward the South East region to aid those impacted by sustained dry weather.
Alicia Chivers, chief executive at RABI, stated that the extended dry spell is placing considerable strain on farming communities and families throughout England and Wales, with numerous individuals confronting heightened financial burden as drought conditions persist.
Chivers expressed pride in RABI’s capacity to mobilise quickly when farming families encounter difficulties of this magnitude.
Applications for the South East portion of the programme will commence at rabi.org.uk/drought-support at midday on September 21 and will remain open until 3pm on September 25, should the funding not be exhausted prior to that date.
Agricultural landowners and tenant farmers operating within officially designated drought zones are eligible to request a £2,000 payment to contribute toward personal and domestic expenditure.
Funding is not accessible for commercial operations or agricultural production expenses.
Chivers noted that through this £2 million commitment, the Emergency Drought Grant would deliver immediate financial assistance to enable farming families to cover essential living costs during a period of heightened stress and economic difficulty.