SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 27th February (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), under the State Commercial Society of Agrarian Infrastructures (SEIASA), has officially approved today, Tuesday in San Cruz de La Palma, an addendum to increase by 2,178,000 euros (IGIC not included) the investment already pledged to modernize irrigation in the Santa Cruz de La Palma-Breñas-Mazo Regional Irrigation Community, situated on the island of La Palma.
The event was overseen by the Secretary of State for Agriculture and Food, Begoña García Bernal, and was attended by the Government delegate in the Canary Islands, Anselmo Pestana.
The modernization will bring advantages to an area of 250 hectares of banana trees cultivated by 456 irrigators in the municipalities of Breña Alta, Breña Baja, Mazo and Fuencaliente.
“We have advanced technologies and digitalisation on our side, they are crucial tools to conserve and optimally utilise water. Let’s bear in mind that water is a scarce and essential natural element, necessary for our existence and the growth of our produce. We are entirely dependent on water,” mentioned the Secretary of State in her address.
On the other hand, the Government delegate in the Canary Islands highlighted that Spain’s commitment to La Palma “remains steadfast, particularly with the primary sector. By means of public-private collaboration, it aids in ensuring that agricultural activities hold a promising future in our islands”.
The addendum formalized today raises the initial project budget of 3,922,000 euros to 6,100,000 euros (excluding IGIC), marking a 55 percent increase. The aim is to tackle the surge in prices resulting from market situations and the general rise in raw material and material costs over the last year.
ENHANCING EFFICIENCY AND DIGITALISATION IN IRRIGATION
The objective of the forthcoming action, falling under item No. 9 of the project for modernizing and enhancing irrigation in the southeastern region of La Palma island, TT.MM. of Breña Alta, Breña Baja, Mazo and Fuencaliente: Red de San Miguel, Isla de La Palma (Santa Cruz de Tenerife), is to enhance the management and efficiency of irrigation water usage, along with the complete digitalisation of the irrigation network of San Miguel. The plan includes constructing a filtration station, a new pressurized irrigation network, and a remote control system.
Following the addendum’s signature, the Secretary of State for Agriculture and Food, accompanied by other officials, inspected the area designated for the project.
This initiative is part of the Plan for efficiency and sustainability in irrigation of the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan Phase II and is funded by the Next Generation EU funds.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has allocated an investment of 54.61 million euros for the Canary Islands Autonomous Community, through SEIASA, to undertake eight irrigation modernisation projects.
