Agricultural organization Asaga has raised concerns about another potentially “disastrous” potato harvest if there isn’t rainfall soon. This could lead to “escalating prices” in the upcoming months.
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Feb. 20 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Tenerife Island Council has unveiled a series of fourteen measures to address the prevailing drought crisis on the island, with reservoirs currently holding up to 30% less water compared to the same period last year. There are apprehensions about an upcoming summer that “looks very bad.”
As reported by Asaga President, Ángela Delgado, following a meeting with representatives from Balten, the Vice President of the Island Council, Lope Afonso, and the Primary Sector Councillor, Valentín González, there have been discussions about implementing “drastic measures” if there is no improvement in the situation in the coming months.
Delgado emphasized that over the past 15 years, there has been a consistent increase in drought and plant transpiration, resulting in a much higher water consumption. This year, the drought began in January as opposed to the second half of March last year, indicating a worsening situation.
The association’s president, accompanied by representatives from COAG, UPA, and ASOCAN, has pledged support for a potential declaration of a water emergency to expedite necessary work to ensure irrigation water for the coming summer, while urging the Island Council to plan investments accordingly.
Delgado also expressed support for a proposal by Balten and the Island Council to slightly compromise on the quality of regenerated water “to enhance quantity,” attributed to the exceptional work done by purifiers.
Illustrating the dire state of the island’s agriculture, Delgado highlighted the potentially “disastrous” potato harvest in the absence of rainfall in the coming days, akin to the situation last year, foreseeing “escalating prices” in the subsequent months.
“The higher altitude areas, which are the main potato production areas, are particularly lacking in water, both in quantity and quality,” she added.
Afonso indicated that declaring an emergency entails a “complex process,” contingent on a thorough legal analysis, as it may encompass aspects beyond agriculture.
The Vice President predicted a protracted drought, necessitating measures to “alleviate” its impact, especially for the forthcoming summer, through initiatives such as desalination and regenerated water projects, and network enhancements.
INVESTMENT VALUED AT 27 MILLION
The Island Council has proposed actions, budgeted at almost 9 million euros for this fiscal year, including desalination plants for regenerated water for irrigation in the Güímar valley, Isla Baja, and a mobile desalination module, along with the enhancement of the El Chorrillo tertiary – a project to provide better quality water to the northeast area through an agreement with the Santa Cruz City Council (Tacoronte-Acentejo).
Furthermore, a collaboration with SEIASA will see an additional 18 million euros invested in rehabilitating and enhancing the water supply network across the southwest region of Tenerife, as well as constructing the Balsa Las Charquetas in Guía de Isora.
Afonso and González emphasized the need for a coordination table, involving the Insular Water Council and the local authorities, to establish a consensus, authorize, and coordinate actions with the utmost agility considering the island’s exceptional circumstances.
