Rural Scotland, covering 95 per cent of the land area and 18 per cent of the population, is an integral part of the country's economy, environment and culture. The Scottish Government's aim is to promote development in rural areas and empower communities.
The Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) is a £1.6 billion programme of economic, environmental and social measures designed to develop rural Scotland over the next few years, until 2013.
Sustainable, profitable businesses and thriving communities are at the heart of the draft rural affairs and environment budget.
Despite the real-terms cuts in the Scottish Government's budget, the draft budget for 2010-11 seeks to ensure continued economic growth in rural and coastal Scotland.