B.C. farmers and ranchers can reduce their risks from extreme weather through a new pilot program that will help improve farms’ climate-change preparedness and resilience to wildfires, flooding and extreme heat.
“Over the past year, we’ve seen the extreme impacts of climate-related weather events on our farming communities, and we are taking action to support farmers and ranchers with climate-change adaptation tools and projects,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food. “Agriculture and being able to feed British Columbians is intricately tied to climate change, and by taking increased steps to focus on how we can best prepare for and mitigate future climate impacts, we will be able to better protect the livelihoods of our food producers while strengthening our food security and food economy.”
The Extreme Weather Preparedness for Agriculture program will support as much as $1.5 million in projects this year to help famers conduct risk assessments and make infrastructure upgrades on their farms.
“Agricultural producers in British Columbia know how important it is to act now so we are better prepared for extreme weather and climate change,” said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. “B.C. is recognized globally for the high-quality food we produce. By working together to reduce these risks, we’re building a more resilient agricultural sector to maintain and enhance that success. This program is an important part of our Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy, which outlines actions across sectors to help people, communities and businesses prepare for climate impacts in the future.”
Source : www.news.gov.bc.ca