A UNIQUE scheme geared to help farmers survive in the current depressed economic climate has been praised by West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett.

The pilot project, run by West Devon Business Information Point (BIP), has been made possible through European funds. It will enable farmers to get individual business counselling to identify options for the future.

Speaking as a guest at Liverton Farm, South Tawton, where the official launch took place on Monday, Mr Burnett said: 'I have never known such a depression as the one we are in. It has impacted on every aspect of agriculture.'

He was there to encourage BIP and to urge farmers to take advantage of the project.

'It is a chance for farmers to tap into local talent and find out what is there for them,' he said.

He said supermarkets had 65 per cent of the retail food market and huge cartels threatened the individual — but despite the down side, he perceived a sea-change for farmers capable of taking more control of their financial destiny.

'There is a wealth of goodwill for British farmers. People know what they are producing is second to none and that their welfare standards lead the world.

'I see farming on the cusp. The future for farming is far more rosy than we think.'

Sticklepath-based BIP got official approval for its scheme in December but has been working on it for the past 18 months. The project just received its first block of funding out of a package that is worth £250,000. It will be funded until mid 2001.

Project manager Jane Sillifant said the cash enabled BIP to give free help and advice to farmers in West Devon. Diversification is often a positive step and could make the difference between viability and a farmer forced to leave the land.

Assistance includes help with business plans, cost flows, environmental aspects, grant availability and much more. It begins with a 'skill check' to pinpoint a client's aspirations and weaknesses.

So far, BIP is helping some 70 farmers and has the capacity to assist up to 200.

'Some of the farmers in West Devon are struggling and need to find a way of earning more money,' said Ms Sillifant. 'Our job is to help. They have lots of ideas and need someone to bounce them off.'

She said this was the very first project of its type in the UK and could well be a model for similar schemes elsewhere.

The scheme enjoys support from West Devon Borough Council, Rural Development Commission, Devon County Council, Dartmoor National Park Authority, Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER), NatWest Bank and West Devon Business Information Point.

Local farmer and project liaison officer Robert Littlejohns said he encourages fellow farmers to seek assistance.

'It's a case of making farmers realise they must look at their farms as a business,' he said.

Robert Reddaway, who hosted the launch on his Liverton Farm, said all farmers had found themselves in great difficulties. His farm has benefited by taking assistance from BIP.

'I realised that my income has been halved since 1995. We have got to get some of that retail price because there is still a vast difference between our prices and the retail prices.

'Mr Blair is looking into the costings of supermarkets — and I hope something comes out whereby we might get a bit of help. In 1976 a suckler lamb at Easter went for £62 — today it's around £25,' he said.

'BIP are introducing a lot of us to new skills. I rear cattle and have sold commercially to the market for my lifetime — but if the future means we have to find a retail outlet ourselves we must look at that.

'If we can find a niche market for a product it's a way forward. It's not the salvation to farming but it's going in the right direction. If we want to improve things we have to adjust.'