Through the Canada Infrastructure Bank the Canadian federal government will invest $1.5 billion for agriculture irrigation projects, a release from the Canada Infrastructure Bank on Oct. 1, says.
By investing in irrigation it will help the agriculture sector enhance production, strengthen Canada’s food security, and expand export opportunities, the release notes.
“Increased irrigation can help farmers grow higher value crops and more crops per acre. It also makes water usage more efficient and helps provide protection from droughts. These types of investments will have positive impacts for years to come, helping mitigate the impacts of erratic weather events,” Mary Robinson, Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) president, says in a news release.
The CFA is encouraged by the announcement and says they will work closely with the government to ensure these infrastructure funds are implemented efficiently and effectively to support farmers and rural communities.
There was also $2 billion announced through the Canada Infrastructure Bank to connect approximately 750,000 homes and small businesses to broadband in underserved communities.
Provinces must apply for funding for Canada Infrastructure Bank projects.
