While the Saskatchewan Government is planning a $4 billion investment in irrigation, Alberta has announced an $800 million program that starts immediately.
The Alberta program expands irrigation by 200,000 acres in eight southern Alberta irrigation districts.
About $244 million will come from Alberta taxpayers with $163 million from irrigation districts and the rest from the federal government.
Alberta has 1.6 million acres of irrigation — 300,000 acres of private irrigation and the rest in districts.
Irrigation in Alberta has allowed development of a flourishing food processing sector in the Lethbridge area. Operations range from processing sugar beets, potatoes, beans, peas to other crops.
Saskatchewan has about 100,000 acres in irrigation with plans to develop another 500,000 acres in two projects that include 150,000 acres just north of Moose Jaw.
Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
