UPSHALL PRAISES SASKATCHEWAN RESIDENTS' GENEROSITY TO DEVELOPING NATIONS

Released on February 26, 1999

Agriculture and Food Minister Eric Upshall, on behalf of Premier Roy

Romanow, today said the Government of Saskatchewan has contributed,

through the Saskatchewan Council of International Co-operation, a

total of $21.6 million over the last 25 years to agriculture, food and

educational projects in developing nations.



In addition to this contribution and personal donations by

Saskatchewan residents, many Saskatchewan farmers have traveled to

developing countries to train farmers, build educational, medical and

agricultural facilties and assist rural communities with various

agriculture and food projects, Upshall said.



The Saskatchewan Council for International Co-operation (SCIC), the

umbrella organization for 30 Saskatchewan organizations that assist

developing nations, estimates that Saskatchewan residents have

personally contributed to SCIC member agencies about $119.7 million in

total for developing nations from 1974 to 1998. This total figure

does not include any provincial or federal government funding.



Upshall was speaking to Grade Eight students of St. Josaphat School in

Regina during a special welcoming ceremony for agrarian activist

Raminho de Figuerideo of Brazil.



Figuerideo, a leader of the Sem Terra (Without Land) agricultural

movement in Brazil, is speaking in various Canadian cities as a

guest of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and

Peace (CCODP). Since 1984, the Sem Terra has helped 140,000

Brazilian families to acquire farmland. However, more than 1,600

Sem Terra members have been killed in their struggle for

farmland.



"It is an honour to be here today to welcome Mr. Figuerideo to

Saskatchewan and to hear of his work with farmers in Brazil,"

Upshall said.



Upshall commended the Canadian Catholic Organization for

Development and Peace for its work with developing nations in

Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.



"Over the last 25 years, the CCODP has raised in excess of

$8 million in Saskatchewan to implement agricultural and

educational projects in developing nations. This funding has

been raised through personal donations from the people of

Saskatchewan; total contributions of $3 million directed to the

CCODP through the Saskatchewan Council for International

Co-operation from the Government of Saskatchewan; and matching

grants from the Canadian International Development Agency

(CIDA)," Upshall said.



"The Government of Saskatchewan is pleased that it was able in

1998-99 to support the the SCIC with funding of $350,000. This

funding was distributed among SCIC's member agencies, including

the CCOPD."



Saskatchewan residents are renowned for the generosity of their

donations to SCIC member agencies, he said. In 1997-98 alone,

SCIC's 30 members collected donations totaling $8 million. This

amount includes personal donations, matching grants from the

Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the

Government of Saskatchewan contribution of $350,000.



"Agriculture and food production is the foundation of a peaceful

nation," Upshall said. "Food is a basic human need. The people

of Saskatchewan, one of the great food producing areas of the

world, recognize their fortunate circumstances and have been very

generous in sharing their wealth and knowledge with developing

nations over the last 25 years."



- 30 -



For more information, contact:



Carlos Roberts

Overseas Program Officer

Saskatchewan Council for International Co-operation

Regina.

Phone: (306)757-4669 or 525-0349

Fax: (306)757-3226