Farmers Feed the World is a program funded by the Canadian Red Cross, which targets Syrian refugees settling in Ontario. The mandate of this program is to provide a path for self-sustainability for Syrian refugees within agriculture and provides opportunities for these newcomers to become active in our economy.
The target areas for this project are Northumberland, Peterborough, Hastings and Prince Edward Counties, as currently these region are experiencing a large labor shortage in several areas including agricultural and industrial venues linked to food plant processing.
The program will assist Syrian refugees in obtaining employment in agriculture, by providing information sessions, and offering a safe food handling workshop (certification), which will be culturally tailored and available in Arabic.
Information sessions will provide information on Canadian agricultural practices, starting a farm and selling food in Ontario, regulations regarding work and food safety, and legal information regarding land transactions and leasing. These sessions are to start in the fall of 2016 and will give Syrian refugees the ability to obtain information and ask questions via an interpreter.
If you are a Syrian refugee and have an interest in working in agriculture, you have farming experience, or have a desire to start your own agri-business, please contact our office to book an appointment and enroll in to the program.