Progressive Conservative Agriculture critic Chuck Porter is cautiously optimistic following the announcement of a new government program that will aim to support young farmers who are eager to enter Nova Scotia’s commercial farming industry.
Porter, who believes that barriers to entry in the farming market have slowed growth in Nova Scotia’s agricultural production, is pleased with the announcement, but still questions the NDP government’s promise of a $900,000, 10-year agriculture strategy.
“The ‘ThinkFarm’ strategy is definitely a step in the right direction,” said Porter. “However, the NDP are doing nothing to support current and established farmers who are struggling to maintain their operations on a daily basis.”
Current farmers were promised a new farming strategy dating back to the 2009 general election campaign.
Porter, who met with dairy farmers last week, says that farmers can no longer wait.
“This strategy is critical to the long-term competitiveness and profitability of our farmers,” added Porter. “Nova Scotia's Federation of Agriculture said back in April that they required the strategy now and could not wait.”
Porter is encouraging Agriculture Minister John MacDonell to pursue the ThinkFarm initiative aggressively in light of a 2008 policy paper by the Young Farmers of Nova Scotia. The paper shows that commercial farm businesses in Nova Scotia will require a minimum of $500,000 of initial capital by this year.
“I understand that any investment takes time to mature,” said Porter. “But our farmers deserve better, and will not let this government off the hook when it comes to developing a long-term, viable solution to our agricultural issues here in Nova Scotia.”
Porter adds that he was pleased to see the new initiative unveiled at the Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition in Truro.
