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Newcomers Cultivate Hope, Grow Food in Alberta
11 Aug
Summary
- Newcomer farmers are revitalizing land through the 'Kurudi Mashambani' pilot project.
- The initiative aims to combat food insecurity and empower immigrant farmers.
- Westlock Terminals provides land, fostering collaboration between farmers and the community.
In central Alberta, a one-year pilot project named 'Kurudi Mashambani,' meaning 'back to the land' in Swahili, is revitalizing farmland. Newcomer farmers are cultivating crops on two hectares of land in Westlock County, aiming to combat food insecurity and empower immigrant families.
The project, a collaboration between Partners for Humanity Council, Somali Art and Cultural Association of Canada, and Westlock Terminals, offers a pathway for experienced farmers to contribute to their communities. Westlock Terminals, a farmer-owned co-op, provided the land through a reduced rental agreement, supporting small-acre farming and newcomer integration.
'Kurudi Mashambani' focuses on food sovereignty, dignity, and healing, moving participants from food aid dependency to becoming community food providers. It highlights the valuable ancestral knowledge and climate resilience expertise that newcomers bring to Canadian agriculture, where less than two percent of the national population farms.
Challenges include establishing infrastructure quickly, but the project's rapid development has been met with gratitude. Local leaders express hope that this initiative can address food security concerns and serve as a model for national replication, fostering a more inclusive and thriving society.
