Aragón will be «vigilant» about the evolution of irrigation facilities contemplated in the hydrological plan of the Ebro Hydrographic Confederation in the fourth cycle, «so that future decisions do not reduce the possibility of the future of our irrigation.»
This was provided by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food, Javier Rincón, while closing Ferebro’s position before the hydrological plans of the Fourth Cycle, which took place on Thursday within Smagua.
This fourth cycle of the hydrological plan, which will cover the period between 2028 and 2033, considers reductions in these irrigation facilities that can reach up to 20% of the existing ones.
Rincón warned in his speech that «a possible reduction of the current equipment would undoubtedly imply one of the pillars of the economy of Aragon, a sector that is a source of life and development for the most depopulated areas of our territory.»
Furthermore, «they would lead to a punishment for all irrigators who have contributed for decades and will continue to do so with great sacrifice, not only economic, but also for the development of increasingly modern and efficient irrigation systems,» added the head of agriculture.
Javier Rincón also emphasized the need to resolve the delays at the «highest speed» in hydraulic works that are already in progress in Aragon, such as the Renaissance of Yesa, which could guarantee water supply for several years, or the implementation of Mularoya or Almudévar made an «unexplainable» situation.
«Regulatory works not only play an essential role in ensuring water supply for various uses, both agricultural and industrial, wealth generators, as well as for human consumption, but also serve to regulate water routes or to address greater guarantees; phenomena that, due to climate change, are more frequent.
In the almost two years of the current government of Aragon, around 53 million euros were allocated to boost irrigation through various initiatives, such as subsidies for the creation and modernization of irrigation in 2024 worth 20 million, resolved by February, the payment of 11 million of 11 thousand euros corresponding to previous calls for subsidies or deferred annual payments for the creation of irrigation for the creation of 9 million euros (4.5 million euros per year).
To all these initiatives, we must add the concession of the Aragon government Valdurrios in Sector VIII in Monegros II, an infrastructure that has a cost of approximately 52 million euros. The Aragon government bears 22 million euros, of which this executive has already paid 10.7 million euros.
