Farming Investment Fund – Water Management Grant

Second Round of Water Management Grant Opens

On 19 April 2023, the second round of the Water Management Grant opened. This grant supports arable and horticultural businesses in England that grow, or plan to grow, irrigated food crops, ornamentals, or forestry nurseries.

Funding Details

The grant can cover up to 40% of eligible project costs. The minimum grant is £35,000 (40% of £87,500) and the maximum is £500,000 per applicant per funding round.

Purpose of the Grant

The aim is to improve farm productivity by using water more efficiently for irrigation. It encourages best practice irrigation equipment and helps secure water supplies through on-farm reservoir construction.

Two-Step Application Process

As with the first round, applications follow two steps.

Step One: Online Checker

Complete the online checker to confirm eligibility and ensure your project meets funding priorities. The deadline for this step is 12 July 2023. Visit here to get started.

Step Two: Full Application

Once eligible, and after receiving an invitation, submit your full application by 31 October 2024. Before applying, secure any planning permission and abstraction licences.

Examples of Eligible Costs

Below are examples of costs the grant can cover.

Reservoir Construction and Infrastructure

• Abstraction point including pump
• Reservoir wall construction
• Electricity installation for pumphouse
• Fencing for synthetically lined reservoir
• Filtration equipment – sand or screen filters and UV treatment
• Irrigation pump(s) and controls
• Overflow/spillway
• Pipework to fill the reservoir
• Pumphouse
• Synthetic liner
• Underground water distribution main and hydrants
• Water meter
• Water tanks for abstracted water or harvested rainwater

Irrigation Equipment

• Boom
• Capillary bed
• Ebb and flow
• Mist
• Sprinklers
• Trickle

Technology

• Equipment to monitor soil moisture and schedule irrigation
• Sensors and tools for efficient water application