A NEW strategy for the future of Jersey’s countryside has been promised.
With an emphasis on creating a more diverse rural economy as traditional agriculture declines, the new policy will be produced by the States Economic Development Committee, which has also announced that 16.5 posts will be cut in a restructuring of the old Agriculture and Fisheries Department.
The committee say that the departmental review will save £1.6m by 2007.There will be no change in the budget for direct financial support to farmers and growers, as a result of the review, nor in a number of other current expenses such as advisory services, the Abattoir, or the Sea Fisheries section.
But savings will be made on a number of different fronts, including £327,000 for property and administration costs at the old Agriculture Department, and £214,000 for composting - the latter saving means that there will be no change for the waste disposal arrangements that have existed since the closure of Crabbé.
Article posted on 24th March, 2004 - 12.00am
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