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May 26, 1999
(Forest Resources and Agrifoods)


The following statement was issued today by Kevin Aylward, Minister of Forest Resources and Agrifoods. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

I stand today to update the Members of the House of Assembly on several programs that are enhancing the agrifoods sector.

The first is the Canadian Adaptation and Rural Development Program or CARD II. This program provides a national allocation of $60 million per year for four years and focuses on six adaptation policy priorities. These are research/innovation, human resources, environmental sustainability, food safety and quality, marketing, and rural development.

Federal allocation for our province will be on two fronts. The first is a $1.4 million allocation over four years to the Provincial Adaptation Council. This council is a non-profit organization that will be governed by a board of directors appointed by the various agriculture and agrifood organizations in the province. The role of this council is to help the industry adapt and grow in a rapidly changing world economy. The second commitment from the federal government is in the area of Farm Business Management.

Another program we participate in is the Agricultural Safety Net Agreement. It covers NISA, Enhanced NISA, Crop Insurance and the Agrifood Innovation Program including marketing, diversification and human resource development. Initiatives such as on-farm processing, improvements in feed efficiency and land development are eligible for funding under this program.

This agreement is designed to assist farmers to stabilize incomes and to provide long term stability for the industry. It has been extended for the 1999-2000 fiscal year in the amount of $1.2 million federally and $800,000 provincially.

It is through programs such as CARD II, NISA, the Income Disaster Program and Safety Nets that the province continues to support the diversification of the agrifoods industry.

A fine example of these programs assisting the industry was recently displayed at the successful 1999 Agrifood and Garden Show in Corner Brook. The largest single local show ever held at the Canada Games Centre drew 12,500 people over a three day period.

Attendance at the show's horticultural seminars increased by 75 to 100 per cent. Over 6,000 students were invited to attend the exhibits and over 2,000 students submitted entries into the "My Dream Garden" contest.

The success of this show illustrates the agrifoods industry in Newfoundland and Labrador has come of age and now has become an entity which is beginning to grow on its own.

1999 05 26         3:35 p.m.


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