The future of agriculture continues to unfold in the North Okanagan.
The Regional District of North Okanagan’s draft agricultural area plan will be submitted to local municipalities, First Nations, farmers and senior government for comment.
“This is the culmination of a lot of work and it hits all of the highlights,” said director Mike Macnabb.
The draft plan focuses on protecting farmland and farmers, strengthening the local agricultural economy, encouraging sustainable agricultural practices, managing clean and accessible water, ensuring farmland availability for emerging farmers, creating supportive government policies and regulations and raising awareness and education.
The plan recently went before residents at open houses in Lumby and Armstrong.
“There’s a great deal of interest in it. It reflects the regional district because agriculture is incredibly important.”
The hope is that the plan will bolster job creation.
“Agriculture is one of the economic drivers in the regional district,” said RDNO board chairperson Rick Fairbairn.
Another focus is to promote food sustainability and local access to crops as climate change effects traditional sources of food.
“It wouldn’t take many more crises like we see in California (drought) to have an impact,” said director Juliette Cunningham.
