2020 target | Government to develop crop research and development strategy to increase production by 10 million tonnes
Rural Saskatchewan has its work cut out for it if a provincial growth plan announced last week by premier Brad Wall is to be successful.
As the home of the province’s economic engines — agriculture, energy and mining — rural activity figures prominently in the plan to increase the population to 1.2 million, cut debt and improve education and health care, all by 2020.
The Wall government has already said it wants a global food security institute at the University of Sask-atchewan, but the plan sets out other targets for farmers, processors and exporters.
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“We have a very ambitious agenda for agriculture in the growth plan up to 2020,” agreed agriculture minister Lyle Stewart.
The two main planks are to increase crop production by 10 million tonnes and agricultural exports from $10 to $15 billion within eight years.
“I think it’s achievable, but it’s going to take a pretty sustained effort on the part of everybody,” Stewart said.
He said additional crop production would be achieved with help from the increased research and development money from the province.
Weather, climate and prices all play roles in production, and the growth plan pledges to develop effective business risk management tools to meet producers’ needs.
Stewart said the province consulted with grain producers as it developed the target.
“Everybody recognizes the potential for additional production through research, better varieties and even new crops we can grow, and of course irrigation is a no brainer.”
Greater exports are a logical result of more production and the value-added processing the government is encouraging now that the export monopoly for wheat and barley has been lifted.
For example, Stewart said he anticipates more container shipments of grain and food products will move through the Global Transportation Hub just west of Regina.
Another goal set out in the plan is to establish Saskatchewan as an international leader in biosciences.
As part of this goal, the government intends to collaborate with industry to develop a crops strategy, support more wheat research and promote the crop development expertise in the province.
A farm labour training course will also be established. The agricultural professional operator program will train people who want to work on farms but don’t have required skills.
Stewart said the course would likely include how to operate, maintain and repair equipment for grain and livestock farms, chemical application, 1A driver’s license training, welding, mechanics, basic agronomy and first aid.
