The Regional Minister of Agriculture hands over an aid of 365,800 euros to the irrigators of Tíjola.

The Regional Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Carmen Crespo, has highlighted “the public-private collaboration that is being carried out in Andalusia in the water sector” and that, among other issues, is reflected in the mobilisation of 200 million euros in turnover related to the modernisation and energy efficiency of irrigation. “Thanks to the close collaboration of irrigators and the regional administration, we have managed to save not only energy, but also 12.17 hm3 of water,” he said.

These statements by Crespo refer to the 100 million euros in aid made available to Andalusians in the last legislature to facilitate the modernisation and efficiency of irrigation, public funds in addition to the 50% provided by the private sector for the implementation of the projects. These incentives have been granted to facilitate modernisation initiatives in 43 irrigation communities and to promote energy efficiency in another 19 Andalusian entities.

In the case of the province of Almeria, the Andalusian government has mobilised 20 million euros for the modernisation of irrigation systems, benefiting more than 4,000 irrigators with more than 3,500 hectares of crops. “We continue to deepen in what we are: an example in the good use of water”, the Regional Minister commented.

Carmen Crespo presented the San Antonio El Higueral de Tíjola Irrigation Community with a grant of more than 365,800 euros to support its investment of almost 600,000 euros to improve energy efficiency, which will benefit its 215 associated farmers. In total, these irrigators have around 680 hectares of olive groves, vineyards, orchard crops, almond trees and other fruit trees, mainly. As the Councillor explained, the project subsidised by the Andalusian Government includes “the installation of four solar photovoltaic plants for self-consumption that will allow irrigators to save 41.3% of energy”. Once the works have been awarded, it is estimated that the execution period will be around ten months.

The Agriculture Minister congratulated the members of the Almeria irrigation community which, in her words, “with this investment will be an example of energy efficiency throughout Europe”. “By committing to energy efficiency, we are committing to sustainable agriculture and energy savings that also allow producers to make economic savings,” he stressed.

Basis of the water policy

In her speech, the Regional Minister referred to the basic pillars of the Andalusian Government’s water policy, which include the modernisation of irrigation and the promotion of purification, which is associated with the possibility of using regenerated water. In this regard, she recalled that her department is implementing initiatives aimed at adding 120 hm3 of additional water resources in Andalusia, of which 30 hm3 would correspond to the province of Almeria (18 hm3 in the Poniente and 12 hm3 in the Levante).

Furthermore, Carmen Crespo recalled that the Regional Government of Andalusia is also involved in improving the supply of municipalities, and has already approved two Drought Decrees “and now we are working to make a third Drought Decree this quarter that will allow Andalusia to move forward in the situation of scarcity of water resources in which we find ourselves”.