Indigenous agricultural business management recommendations highlighted in report

Farm Management Canada (FMC) has released a new research report that investigates the business management needs of Indigenous agricultural producers in Canada.

The report, titled “The Path Forward: Supporting the Business Management Needs of Indigenous Producers,” was made possible by participation of indigenous agricultural business owners from coast-to-coast in surveys, focus groups, and interviews, says FMC.

The organization highlights two notable pieces of information gleaned from the report: there is a desire from Indigenous producers for more business management training; and, there is a growing number of Indigenous people working in agriculture, working to build community, economic opportunity, and food self-determination.

The report also identified five high-level recommendations:

• Build lasting relationships with Indigenous communities;
• Increase awareness of and access to Indigenous agricultural opportunities and support programs;
• Enhance Indigenous educational opportunities;
• Expand Indigenous support services; and,
• Enhance Indigenous research and analysis

Recognizing the growth of First Nations and Métis people in agriculture in the last decade, FMC contracted the Canadian Agricultural Human Resources Council, with the guidance of their Indigenous Advisory Council for this research. The projected was funded in part by Bayer, Farm Credit Canada, and the Canadian Canola Growers Association.