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Davis Road bunnies are a pet project P. 7
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Vancouver Island used to produce 85 per cent of its own foods in the early 1900s. Now I think we produce seven per cent. Mayta Ryn President Nanaimo Cedar Farmers’ Institute
Serving Ladysmith, Chemainus and area
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
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How ya gon’na help ‘em stay on the farm
❝ Farmers want to grow Throne Speech promises Craig Spence THE CHRONICLE
Farmers on Vancouver Island, and in the Cowichan Valley and Cedar areas were happy to hear agriculture mentioned in the Throne Speech, delivered by Lt.Gov. Judith Guichon on Tuesday, Feb. 9. They don’t need convincing that agriculture is a key sector in B.C.’s economy, even if it represents a fraction of the dollar value generated by resource industries like forestry and mining, and doesn’t have the new age allure of high tech. So now the seed has sprouted, they are more than happy to provide a little fertilizer and water to make sure it grows into the sun-
NINE deals
for
light of a new dawn. How much has homegrown been overshadowed in B.C. by imports from agribusiness titans like California and Mexico? “Vancouver Island used to produce 85 per cent of its own foods in the early 1900s” said Mayta Ryn, president of the NanaimoCedar Farmers’ Institute. “Now I think we produce seven per cent.” So as far as she is concerned, we have a long way to go, getting back to square one. Guichon said the Liberal government under the leadership of Premier Christy Clark is committed to: • increasing financial support for the Agricultural Land Commission; • offering tax credits to farmers
each
GREAT FOOD, SUPER VALUE! — get ‘em while you can! —
who donate food to non-profit organizations; • encouraging and supporting British Columbians to “Buy Local, Grow Local.” Laurie Gourlay, president of the Vancouver Island & Coast Conservation Society said the Liberal government’s attention to supporting local agriculture is welcome. “This is what we need, more attention to local food production,” he said. He confirmed the narrow slice of the sales pie chart Vancouver Island farmers occupy, and said the time is ripe for turning things around. “I’m not sure we could get back to 60 or 70 per cent in the next year, but we could do it in the next 10 years,” Gourlay said.
Ryn said small scale farmers that could operate year-round, in places like Vancouver Island and which would have facilities need to have a voice on the BC to help them process and proAgricultural Commission. Right mote their products, would give now they only have a ‘partial seat’ local growers opportunities to and their representative is ap- build demand. pointed, not selected by the farmCanadian agriculture, according community. ing to Ryn, is evolving toward a “We would like a more formal model where local, community way to address the ministry,” she farmers supply local demand; said. “We don’t get invited to the and large scale agribusiness is ditable.” rected mainly to export markets. Both Ryn and Gourlay menAs for the argument that locally tioned the need to provide financ- grown and raised food will cost ing for small scale farmers – espe- people more, Ryn said: “They’re cially for young farmers, starting going to be paying more anyway.” out. “Agriculture is going to be a big “Small scale farmers have a real deal,” Ryn said. “We’re actually problem because it’s difficult to well poised to be a big player in get financing,” Ryn said. “It’s a agriculture, not only to ship to huge issue.” the world, but to feed our own Support for farmers’ markets people.”
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