1.4 million euros to improve accessibility on rural roads

The exact figure of the item earmarked in 2023 for this action is 1,417,699 euros for the execution of improvement works on the roads that give access to agricultural plots on the Island.

Parrilla and González visited the already completed improvement and paving works on the Lomo Los Pinos agricultural road. Parrilla explains that “this action, in which we have invested 459,825 euros, has contributed to increasing safety and improving driving, comfort and independence of entry and exit of farmers in this environment.”

The counselor explains: «The access and transport of agricultural products is facilitated to an area of ​​5.31 hectares of vineyards, orchards horticultural crops, potato crops and temperate fruit trees, which will favor the establishment of production”.

The mayor of Fasnia is satisfied with the results“not only because a road has been paved and agricultural development in the area has been facilitated, but also because the works fit perfectly with the environment, with white-edged walls, finishes and accesses in good condition”.

The work included the improvement of the pavement with pigmented concrete with a first layer of 18 centimeters thick and a second layer of eight-centimeter colored concrete. The layout has also been improved, which now has a width of about three meters and eight sidings. In addition, cobblestones have been built in those places of historical or aesthetic interest so that farmers can stop depending on the weather to access their farms. Diversion caskets for irrigation pipes have also been built, as well as water passages to favor their camouflage with the environment, covering them with natural stone from the place itself.

A recent study

One of the most recent studies on the reality of the agricultural world in the municipality of Fasnia is the final degree project in Geography and Territorial Planning of the University of La Laguna (ULL) in the 2019-2020 academic year, entitled The rural environment of Fasnia in the 21st century: small-scale rural activity and decline of the agricultural space. Its author is the fasniero Romén González Cabrera,

This work summarizes that “The municipality of Fasnia is going through a situation of regression of the agricultural space”. He relates this reality to “low population density and ageing.” In addition, “with the difficulty of maintaining a population linked to agriculture and with the impediments that discourage generational change.” He adds to the study that “the cultivated area is relatively small and agricultural activity is mainly carried out part-time.”

By way of conclusion, Romén González points out: «In general, agricultural activity does not remunerate the farmer or rancher sufficiently or satisfactorily. Among the most notable drawbacks is the high price of irrigation water, since it represents one of the main production costs”.