Pippa Hackett Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on a visit to one of the South West Mayo Development Companys social farming projects in conjunction with Social Farming Ireland and Western Care. Pictured with the Minister is Oliver Dixon of Ahena Organic Farm Claremorris and Western Care Social farming Participants Eric Kilcourse (Ballyhaunis) and Padraig Prendergast (Kilkelly). Pic: Michael Mc Laughlin

Minister Hackett comes to Mayo for first encounter with social farming

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Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food (DAFM) and the Marine, Senator Pippa Hackett has enjoyed her first encounter with social farming, which is financed by DAFM and the CEDRA Fund.

Visiting South West Mayo Development Company (SWMDC), the minister met Padraig and Eric, two Western Care Social farming participants on Oliver and Anna Dixon's organic farm near Claremorris.

Speaking at the farm, Minister Hackett commented: "I am hugely impressed by this programme, which is a truly innovative approach to social care in the community.

"It was wonderful to see first hand the benefits it provides the participants and farmer, and I am very happy that my department continues to support these types of programmes."

Social farming offers people who are socially, physically, mentally or intellectually disadvantaged the opportunity to spend time on a family farm in a healthy, supportive and inclusive environment.

SWMDC is just one of Social Farming Ireland's contract holders for the Social Farming programme.

Managing the programme throughout Mayo, Galway and Roscommon, SWMDC has grown the initiative through its networks within the farming community and service providers.

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