«The didactic activities had to be suspended in the previous year, due to the Covid, but we are already beginning to recover them. We are also in charge of the maintenance of the collections of pome fruit trees at that height in the North of Tenerife and of different types of vineyard. In addition, on this farm, small-scale experimental issues are carried out, such as the cultivation of the long-cycle Northern variety sweet potatoes, which come from the La Mosca farm, in Valle Guerra, or the demonstration project for the cultivation of wild asparagus. that recently it has already generated interest among producers who have begun to cultivate them in other areas of the island. It is a living farm with its own staff », he concludes.
Parrilla understands that Boquín plays an important role in the conservation of agricultural biodiversity in Tenerife, “with other projects such as the introduction of a type of almond tree.” In his opinion, it would not make sense to give up his management to the City Council because “it would hardly be possible to continue with the projects that are underway and that are of great interest to Icod and Tenerife.”
The insular councilor insists on denying the abandonment and defends that the presence of weeds in some areas “is absolutely normal in the agricultural estates of this area, which do not have to have a garden treatment. The originating vegetation does not have to be removed from the entire estate. For example, it is normal that there are areas with brambles, especially in the surroundings of the ravines ».
“It’s a disaster”
The La Culata Cliffs Defense Association He does not think the same and denounces “the situation of abandonment in which the Finca Boquín finds itself, for several years,” according to Jesús Manuel León, spokesman for this group. In his opinion, “everything is abandoned, unused, unplanted and full of weeds. It’s a disaster and nobody does anything.
León stresses that “the Island Council of Tenerife spent thousands of euros to buy and condition this large estate”, located near the Parque del Drago and the historic center of Ica, “but now it’s ashamed and nobody pays any attention to it. It is a fully enclosed public property ».
For this association, which defends the environment where the farm is located, «It doesn’t make sense that after restoring all the buildings, rebuilding the roads, build walls, improve accesses, install irrigation, buy machinery … They have chosen to leave it as it is ».
The City Council of Icod de los Vinos, Through its mayor, Francis González (CC), he has also criticized the state of Finca Boquín and has shown interest in taking over the management of this space. In the opinion of Jesús Manuel León, municipal management “would not be a bad solution after so many years without use and without care.”
«A solution is urgent because it is a farm that was bought and restored with everyone’s money, so the president of the Cabildo, Pedro Martín, or the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Javier Parrilla, should take action on the matter and look for a solution for this emblematic space. And if they don’t want it, then they should sell it or give it up, but don’t let it spoil like that, ”the group emphasizes.
According to this northern association, at Finca Boquín “there were eight party owners who lived, together with their families, on those plots. They all went ahead and now there is practically nothing planted and what was done is beginning to deteriorate or has already become obsolete. Its objective is for the island council to “become more interested in the farm” and recondition it “as it was in the past.”
