REGINA — Funding of $19 million to help sustain irrigation infrastructure formerly owned by government and support future development opportunities has been announced by the Government of Saskatchewan.
The Irrigation Rehabilitation Program includes pumps, pipes, canals and associated water management infrastructure, according to the government
Agriculture Minister David Marit says more than 55,000 acres of irrigation were developed between 2020 and 2023.
According to the ministry, irrigation allows more diverse crops to be grown and increases the number of livestock that can be supported. It is also important for diversifying rural economies and stabilizing crop production with a consistent source of moisture.
“The future of our agriculture industry and producers is closely tied to water resource management, and infrastructure management is critical to our ongoing efforts to meet those long-term needs,” says Irrigation Saskatchewan’s co-chair Aaron Gray. “
The six irrigation districts that will receive this Irrigation Rehabilitation Program funding are:
- Luck Lake Irrigation District, to receive up to $3.8 million over five years.
- South Saskatchewan Irrigation District, to receive up to $9.5 million over five years.
- Riverhurst Irrigation District, to receive up to $3.8 million over five years.
- Moon Lake Irrigation District, to receive up to $159,005 over five years.
- Grainland Lake District, to receive up to $441,180 over five years.
- Miry Creek Irrigation District, to receive up to $153,710 over five years.
- The Miry Creek Irrigation District will also receive a one-time payment of $1.3 million from the ministry to repair the water intake portion of their pumping system as part of the asset transfer agreement.
Previously, Luck Lake Irrigation District, South Saskatchewan Irrigation District, Riverhurst Irrigation District and Moon Lake Irrigation District were part of five-year funding agreements.
