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Provincial Issues - Agriculture

Providing the Resources to Grow the Agriculture Industry in BC (2011)

BC’s farmers and ranchers serve as the foundation for a diverse agriculture and food system which includes the production, processing, distribution and sale of food and other agricultural goods such as flowers and nursery products.  This vital component of the BC economy generates over $35 billion in revenue and employs an estimated 300,000 people.(1)

The industry is facing many challenges.  Statistics Canada numbers show that net income for BC farmers and ranchers has been in negative territory for an unprecedented four consecutive years (Figure 1),(2) and several sectors have faced particular hardships resulting in significant downsizing.

BC has the second largest urban market in Canada in our own backyard, we have been experiencing a growing public interest in sourcing local agricultural products, and we have access to a sophisticated transportation network to help facilitate export market development.  Industry and government must work in partnership to take full advantage of these market opportunities, thereby growing the agriculture and food sectors.

Together with other representatives from BC’s integrated agriculture and food value chain, including the processing sector, the distribution and retail sectors, and the restaurant and food service sectors, we are requesting a reinvestment in a provincial domestic branding program.

Extension personnel and B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands (MAL) industry experts play an important role in facilitating information exchange and supporting farmers in day to day decision-making.  Particularly at a time when agriculture is under significant financial pressure, it is important that funding remains in place for these positions. The BC Agriculture Plan committed government to increasing extension support by $500,000 a year, but it would appear from subsequent MAL budget cuts that this was never fully implemented.  The Chamber would recommend that funding for extension be given priority, and would offer to work with MAL to identify key priority areas for the agriculture sector.

The Chamber, agrees with the industry has long held the view that we are missing opportunities to address health concerns through more direct linkages with agriculture and food production.  The School Fruit and Vegetable Nutritional Program (BCSFVNP) is one initiative that has very successfully made this connection.  There are clear indications of the program’s successes in meeting both health objectives and benefiting the BC agriculture sector.  We would recommend that funding for the BCSFVNP be provided at a level that would meet the objective of ultimately covering all BC schools in the program.

We would note from Figure 2 that even if all of the requests for funding were met, the agricultural investments by BC would still pale in comparison to other provinces.  It is time to invest in the future of agriculture in BC – and we look to the Province for support.

THE CHAMBER RECOMMENDS

That the Provincial Government;

1. live up to the BC Agriculture Plan commitment to invest $2 million per year into an industry-led marketing program that will increase awareness of local BC food products;
2. give high priority to funding for agricultural extension and that the Ministry work with the industry and key stakeholders to identify key priority areas for the agricultural sector;
3. reverse the decision to discontinue funding for the organic extension agent position; and
4. fund the School Fruit and Vegetable Nutritional Program (BCSFVNP) to a level that will meet the objective of ultimately covering all BC schools in the program.

Footnotes