The government will offer targeted support to farmers, ranchers, agricultural producers, and food processors via latest announced funds
Canada has announced funds to support farmers during Covid-19 pandemic. (Credit: Free-Photos from Pixabay)
The Government of Canada has announced CAD$252m ($179.3m) to better support farmers, food businesses, and food processors during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced significant measures within agriculture programmes to help farmers, food businesses, and food processors maintain a safe and dependable food supply.
Trudeau has also announced that the government aims to offer an additional $200m in borrowing capacity for the sector.
The government will offer targeted support to farmers, ranchers, agricultural producers, and food processors via announced funds.
Canadian Government will create a $77.5m Emergency Processing Fund to provide food producers with personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as help to follow health protocols, automate or modernise their facilities, processes, and operations.
The funds will help address emerging pressures from Covid-19 and maintain better food supply chain
The funding will also help address emerging pressures from Covid-19 and maintain better food supply chain during this period.
The Canadian government has announced $125m funds to launch national AgriRecovery initiatives to support producers faced with additional costs incurred by the global pandemic.
The funds will be used for cattle and hog management programmes to handle livestock backed-up on farms, as food processing plants are closed.
The federal funding will also support beef and pork producers and processors accommodate to a changing market, as well as help farmers and ranchers keep their animals distance before marketing.
The government is also planning to increase the Canadian Dairy Commission’s borrowing limit by $200m to support costs linked with the temporary storage of cheese and butter to avoid food waste.
With an initial $50m fund, the Surplus Food Purchase Programme has been designed to facilitate the redistribution of existing and unsold inventories that could include products such as potatoes and poultry, to local organisations who are serving susceptible Canadians.
In addition, the government will work with provinces and territories to enhance interim payments from 50% to 75% via AgriStability, a federal, provincial and territorial programme established to support producers who face significant revenue declines.
The AgriInsurance programme will also be expanded to include labour shortages and to address an eligible risk for the horticulture sector.
Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: “Canadians count on farmers and producers to provide them with the food they need to feed themselves and their families.
“Today, we are giving them the support they need to keep their workers safe and food systems running during this challenging time, for the benefit of all Canadians.”
In February 2020, The Government of Alberta has announced the launch of the new grain dryer programme to help the farmers deal with the tough harvest.