Manx farmers are expected to claim a total of over ?5 million next year if the proposed Countryside Care Scheme is approved

This part of the decoupling plans, which go before Tynwald next month, would see them receive payments based on maintenance of their land, rather than production levels.

Agriculture Minister Phil Gawne (pictured) says his department expects 479 claimants to ask for an average of almost ?11,000 each.

He was responding to a House of Keys written question from Onchan MHK Peter Karran.

The scheme is being backed by the Manx National Farmers' Union, which says the changes are necessary to secure the future or Manx agriculture.

But a local pressure group, Farmers For Productive Farming, is opposed to the CCS, believing it won't reward them properly for the work they do.