A new report to the Saskatchewan government recommends aggressive support for organic farming with a proposed goal on having 10 per cent of the province’s farmers involved in such production by 2015.
The report by Lon Borgeson, the province’s regional economic development minister and legislative secretary on organics, recommends cash support for both organic farmers and the Saskatchewan Organic Directorate, a resource group for growers, as well as support for research, education and marketing and promotion.
The report was submitted today to Premier Lorne Calvert and the relevant ministries.
“Retail sales of organic food are increasing by over 20 per cent per year,” said Borgeson, a Prince Albert-area MLA. “With large retail chains entering the market, organics are more than just a niche opportunity.”
Among the report’s recommendations are:
core funding of $200,000 a year for the administration of the Saskatchewan Organic Directorate, which advocates for organic farmers on several issues such as CAIS and other government programs and is also currently suing seed companies Monsanto and Bayer, claiming damages for contamination of organic fields with genetically modified crops;
$10 per acre, up to $7,500, for farmers during each of the three transition years while they convert their production to organics;
reimbursement of 75 per cent of annual certification fees for each organic farmer and processor, up to $750; reimbursement of costs for processors to meet HACCP approval; a fund to assist organic meat processing projects;
development of an organic mentorship program and support for an organic production manual;
an organic agriculture branch within Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, including a specialist each in crops, livestock and processing/marketing;
funding for a new organic agriculture position and research chair at the University of Saskatchewan; a certificate program in organic agriculture at Carlton Trail Regional College; funding for SOD to develop study units in organic farming for elementary and high school students;
a “Saskatchewan Grown” or “Saskatchewan Made” campaign, including promotion of farmers’ markets and community-assisted agriculture;
and
a a government-appointed organic advisory board to provide ongoing advice and direction for organic development in the province.
A number of the recommendations have already been adopted by the province, while the remainder now go to government departments for review, the province said in a release.
