Exactly, 2028 is a long way off if AgriRecovery is the only initiative being used in exceptional circumstances. AgriRecovery is like a joker: we can only use it once, even if we need it more than once. We hope 2024 will not be like 2023, but weather events are gaining speed.
If there are more crises by 2028 — I say “if”, but unfortunately it is a matter of when — farmers will have nothing. We have to come back to risk sharing. As you know, business risk management programs are shared 40-60 between both levels of government. However, there needs to be better mutualisation of risk between the farmers and the government. It is the question of the chicken and the egg. As I said, in the strawberry and raspberry industry, two out of three farmers are not signed up for crop insurance. Those who are protected by this insurance are protected against hail, it is not comprehensive insurance. I am thinking of a farmer who was insured against hail, but had to spend and extra $120,000 for a multi-risk insurance. That is a lot of money, especially since we are not talking about a multi-million dollar business.
As you know, the province has set up an emergency fund. There is $50,000 in working capital, but the farmer is asked to sign up for crop insurance. He is going to get $50,000 only to turn around and buy crop insurance, which means he is no further ahead. That is why there needs to be a pilot project to create an “agri-adaptability” initiative or “agri-disaster”. At the very least there needs to something more than the AgriRecovery initiative.