A new $5 million fund announced Thursday in Chilliwack will help B.C. farmers protect their poultry and livestock from animal diseases like avian influenza, swine fever, and foot-and-mouth disease.
乌鸦传媒淚 am pleased to officially announce that the B.C. government is investing $5 million in the B.C. poultry and livestock sector with the renewed focus of reducing the spread of animal disease and improving food security for British Columbians,乌鸦传媒� said Pam Alexis, minister of agriculture and food.
Details like how and when the funding will flow weren乌鸦传媒檛 available, but the new program is about fostering 乌鸦传媒渞esilience乌鸦传媒� in the ag sector, as part of a larger $200-million investment in food security initiatives recently announced.
Langley East MLA Megan Dykeman who is also a farmer, said animal diseases when they hit can have a 乌鸦传媒渞ipple effect乌鸦传媒� throughout the food supply chain.
乌鸦传媒淭his investment will enable our farmers and ranchers to plan, prepare and prevent and mitigate for these diseases on their farms,乌鸦传媒� she said.
The funding will go to a mix of 乌鸦传媒渆mergency planning and training乌鸦传媒� for the livestock and poultry sector, and equipment in response to outbreaks, as well as research, and implementation of biosecurity and mitigation measures.
The ag sector will be able to respond 乌鸦传媒渜uicker and better乌鸦传媒� to disease outbreaks with this key support, said Alexis.
乌鸦传媒淎nimal diseases, such as avian influenza, have a huge impact on farmers,乌鸦传媒� said Mark Siemens, president of the BC Egg producers association.
They乌鸦传媒檝e learned the virus is now a 乌鸦传媒測ear-round乌鸦传媒� concern causing farmers 乌鸦传媒渕ental strain and anguish,乌鸦传媒� which has become 乌鸦传媒渧ery challenging,乌鸦传媒� Siemens said.
乌鸦传媒淧oultry farmers particularly appreciate the fact that this funding is available to a wide variety of applicants so we can take advantage of best practices from across the animal agriculture sector,乌鸦传媒� he said.
Industry associations will receive support for business planning, research, biosecurity and equipment purchases needed to respond to an animal disease outbreak.
The ministry乌鸦传媒檚 Animal Health Centre, located in Abbotsford, currently handles more than 6,000 case submissions annually while diagnosing, monitoring and assisting in controlling and preventing diseases, such as avian influenza. The province has also announced plans to invest in a new Animal Health Centre that will ensure a more robust response to disease and enhanced testing in the future.
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