B.C. pledges $80M to help farmers cope with prolonged drought

Unprecedented drought in British Columbia last year has prompted the provincial government to invest $80 million to help farmers manage, collect and store water for crops and livestock. 

Premier David Eby made the announcement Monday while inside a bell pepper greenhouse in Delta, B.C., saying this summer’s drought may be even worse than last year’s as snow levels remain “remarkably” low.

Eby says climate change-related events, particularly drought, make it tough for farmers to secure enough water for animals, feed and crops, which in turn makes grocery prices soar. 

The funding will be distributed through the Agricultural Water Infrastructure Program to help make irrigation more efficient and to build infrastructure to improve water availability and storage. 

The program was launched last year with a $20-million contribution for 108 water storage projects, including building agricultural dams and dugouts to improve water-supply systems for irrigation and livestock.

The province says the funding expansion should benefit hundreds more farmers as they prepare for another potential drought.

WATCH: Salmon run, livestock hit hard by drought:

How long-term drought affects B.C. farms and fishing

As some parts of the province are still experiencing wintry weather, drought conditions persist, and it’s changing the way British Columbians live, work and source their food and power. Two people in Northern B.C. with a vested interest in groundwater levels tell us how they’re managing.

Eby says the cost of failing to act to counter climate change to support farmers is huge and accumulating. 

“We can’t sit by and let our farmers struggle with a lack of water or a lack of money to replant those fruit trees and those fruit plants and those vines that drive so many critical infrastructures with varieties that can survive rapid temperature swings that we’ve seen,” Eby told the conference.

“So we have to take action for our farmers. If we don’t, we are going to be very hungry in British Columbia.”

Farmers can apply for funding starting next month.

Andrew Adams, who owns Hope Farm Organics east of Prince George, says the program has helped his farm “tremendously” and called the announcement of its expansion “wonderful.”

The farm’s well barely provides enough water for Adams’ family of four in drought years, he said, but the funding helped pay for a $30,000 dugout to help catch snowmelt they use to grow the farm’s organic fruit and vegetable crops.

“We essentially catch the snowmelt and use it for irrigation and it’s given us the volume that we need to continue operating and expand our operations as well,” Adams told CBC’s Radio West on Monday.

“It’s essentially making sure that we’re sustainable and that we’re going to be around in the future.”

Water is one of the most pressing challenges for farmers, according to Adams, but he says after several challenging years, many can’t afford to adapt to the challenges of climate change.

He hopes the new funding helps farmers and ranchers stay in operation, and says his farm may reapply in a year or two once it’s ready to continue the next phase of its water system improvements.

“It’s ensuring the survival of agriculture,” said Adams.