When prairie farmers have the chance to gobble up high prices for their crops, do they leave a portion for the world’s poor and hungry?
The answer is yes, based on the thousands of farmers who increased their donations of cash and grain to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank in the past year. That’s an almost 50 percent increase in 2008-09 from 2007-08, raising the agency’s donations to $12.4 million from $8.4 million.
Farmers didn’t hoard their money and grain during the past year’s crop price rally, which was a historic chance to make money, nor did they rake back their givings when prices plunged during the economic downturn.
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“Despite the recession we’ve seen the generosity of Canadians increase this year,” said Canadian Foodgrains Bank executive director Jim Cornelius.
“We are pleased and humbled to see so many people committed to the work of ending hunger regardless of the challenges they may face in their own lives.”
The agency’s financial year ends March 31 and its final numbers aren’t firm yet, but it appears crop donations in terms of volume were 108 percent of previous years, which with the historically high prices provided 133 percent of the previous year’s grain value.
Cash donations were also up, at 114 percent of the previous year.
The non-profit organization has recently seen its finances and abilities grow substantially. The Canadian International Development Agency has boosted its annual funding to $25 million from $20 million and has provided an extra $9 million for special programs in Congo and Zimbabwe.
Formerly strict rules about shipping grain donations directly to recipients were relaxed for many shipments, allowing grain to be sold and the money used overseas to buy food or aid closer to the affected area.
As well, the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches have joined the organization, widening its membership to cover almost the entire Christian prairie community.
