November 18, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The Agricultural Water Infrastructure Program is opening its next round of applications for eligible farmers and communities, to support and improve water availability, storage, efficiency and sustainability.
Applications will be accepted between November 18 and December 18, 2025.
Applications for two streams of funding through the Agricultural Water Infrastructure Program are available during this intake:
- Stream 1 (producer projects): These are farm-based upgrades to water systems and storage, including dams and conveyance systems.
- Stream 4 (strategic projects): These are community-led initiatives that focus on supporting strategic and collaborative solutions in areas with high water-use conflict, risks to the aquatic ecosystem, existing and potential risks of agricultural water shortage and/or opportunities to expand water availability.
These projects will help support food security and production, while benefiting stream flows and aquatic ecosystems.
The program is administered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of B.C. (IAF).
$100 million fund:
The $100-million Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program provides funding for projects that improve or build new water infrastructure, such as dams, dugouts and water-delivery systems.
The program has supported almost 700 projects since 2023, and the current intake will result in additional projects, such as dams and conveyance systems, and the development of community-led strategic solutions in areas where water shortage is a concern.
Changing climate:
“With a changing climate, drought is an ongoing concern to the success of our agricultural communities,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food.
She says that farmers and communities throughout B.C. are becoming better equipped for drought with ongoing support to help improve their management, delivery and storage of water for agricultural purposes.
“That’s why we’re continuing to help B.C.’s farmers and ranchers access water with new and improved equipment, storage facilities and other technologies that keep crops growing and producing the food we all rely on and enjoy.”
Delta:
The City of Delta will be constructing a second irrigation intake from the Fraser River and upgrading culverts along 72 Street to increase capacity to irrigation systems, carrying more water to farms and increasing production in an area famous for the quality of its soil.
“Delta is grateful for the funding from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the support of the IAF,” said George Harvie, mayor of Delta.
“Through the Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program, we have been able to make critical upgrades to the irrigation water-conveyance system our farmers rely on. These improvements help protect crops during dry summer months, build resilience to drought and strengthen the long-term sustainability of Delta’s agricultural community.
===== Government links:
- Apply for the Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program
- Supports and resources for farmers and food producers impacted by drought
- Additional funding for the Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program
- AgriStability enhancements
===== RELATED:
NEWS SECTIONS: AGRICULTURE & FOOD