Nova Scotia needs more immigrant farmers

Canada, 21st October: Nova Scotia requires increased number of immigrant farmers and has plans to invest $260,000 for attracting foreign farmers to rural areas of this Canadian province.

This was stated by John MacDonell, the Agriculture Minister for the province.

Giving details about the provincial plans for helping foreigner farmers come and work in Nova Scotia farms, the minister said that the government will have talks with experience producers who intend to move to Nova Scotia and set up farming operations here.

The project will also focus on development of a website, detailed profiles of agriculture-sector and a comprehensive database of the farmland available for future farming operations in Nova Scotia. Also, the initiative will include hosting sessions regarding agriculture information in selected nations.

Agriculture Department’s planning and development officer Kim Forsyth said the initiative is being seen as a succession issue as many farmers in Nova Scotia don’t have any family members willing to take over farming. Forsyth added that the farmers’ average age in Nova Scotia is around 57.

Hence, the province of Nova Scotia will invite farmers who wish to expand their farming operations but don’t have either available land or the price for buying land in their native countries, added Forsyth.

There is a compelling need for spreading the message across the world about existing farming opportunities in Nova Scotia, she revealed.

So, Nova Scotia will specially target those nations and the farmers having sufficient relative experience. And certain communities will be selected for scheduling information days, added Forsyth.

A special team having expertise in immigration and agriculture will be sent by Nova Scotia within a period of coming four months to inform foreign farmers about this Canadian province.

The investment of $260,000 by CIC (Citizenship and Immigration Canada) will be done through the Community Development Trust towards the project in Nova Scotia. The Community Development Trust happens to be a $34.9 million program established in 2008 by Ottawa for helping sectors and communities facing economic problems.

The project will get support from the Office of Immigration by setting up of an Agri-food