FARM family members from counties Tyrone, Antrim and Derry are the latest to complete the CAFRE Diversification Challenge Programme at Loughry and Greenmount campuses.

The programmes commenced in January 2007 and consisted of 12 group sessions (one evening per week) and 12 hours of one-to-one mentoring. The programme enables participants to develop the key skills to establish a diversified business.

The programme concluded with each participant delivering a presentation about the development of their own business and how the programme had helped them.

CAFRE's internal verifier and senior rural enterprise lecturer John Sands said, "The presentations were excellent and it is great to see how farm families are adapting to change by developing new diversification businesses to supplement their income.

"These people are very innovative. They are starting a wide variety of very interesting and challenging businesses. I wish each of them every success for the future."

Over 200 people have now completed the course.

The range of businesses featured on the current programme is impressive. Several are involved in art and crafts such as folk art, ceramics, greeting-cards, motif design and an art gallery. The service sector also featured with environmental driveway laying, shot-blasting, window repair services, boiler repairs and beauty treatments. To supplement the course learning, DARD's Rural Enterprise advisers in Omagh, Ballymoney, Ballymena and Magherafelt will continue to assist the participants one-to-one to achieve their business goals.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the any aspect of the programme, please contact your local Rural Enterprise Adviser on 028 9052 4591. Advisers, based at local DARD offices, will be able to help farm owners and their immediate family to review their new business proposal.