Saskatchewan farmers are welcoming additional provincial support for irrigation development in the province.

Agriculture minister David Marit says an additional 2.5 million dollars will help farmers finance irrigation equipment.

The chair of the Saskatchewan Irrigation Projects Association, Aaron Gray, says the additional support will help expand the economy.

The province says the 2.5 million dollars will allow farmers to access up to 500 thousand dollars under the irrigation development program, up from the previous maximum of 300 thousand dollars.

The funding helps ensure improved crop production in drought years and covers equipment like pumps and pipelines.

In the last 2 years, over 19 thousand acres were brought under irrigation in Saskatchewan.