SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Jan. 24 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Cabildo de Tenerife has guaranteed this Monday that farmers will not pay more for irrigation water despite the rise in costs since they will be assumed by the corporation with the energy balance plan for almost 500,000 euros.
This has been advanced this Monday at a press conference by the president of the Cabildo, Pedro Martín, and the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Javier Parrilla, who have also influenced the investment of 1.5 million in renewable energies to reduce the rise of the cost of electricity.
The manager of Balten, Ana Sánchez, has highlighted the “commitment” of the Cabildo to protect resources in the midst of “energy crisis” and highlighted the deployment of reclaimed water as the main source of irrigation for farmers on the island.
Along these lines, he has also indicated that more will be invested in digital meters and telemanagement to avoid water losses and in the improvement of the reclaimed water transport network from Santa Cruz de Tenerife to Valle San Lorenzo.
Likewise, Parrilla has commented that the water supply for this winter is guaranteed despite the fact that the winter is being very dry and the ponds, on average, are at 58% capacity.
Martín, who has presented the accounts of the Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries for next year, has pointed out that it is the highest budget in history with 26.5 million, 3% more than this year and a context that ” It’s not easy” due to the slowdown in the economy.
He has highlighted that it barely has a million euros less than tourism within a government team’s commitment to a “strategic” sector, not so much for its contribution to GDP, but as an “alternative” to the service sector and to prevent dependence on foreign countries increases, with consumption approaching 90%.
And the maintenance of the activity happens, in Martín’s opinion, to achieve “quality water and at reasonable prices”.
At this point, he highlighted that they are working together with the State, with an investment of 200 million, to improve the network and create five purification systems on the island.
MORE THAN 4 MILLION FOR BALTEN
Parrilla has highlighted that the budget reserves 10.1 million for investment, among which 4.8 million stand out for Balten, in 1.5 million in agricultural roads and another 1.5 million for the construction of the Northeast agricultural market.
Likewise, the accounts reserve 4.7 million for direct aid to the primary sector, 1 million for animal welfare, 1.4 million for the acquisition of the majority of the shares of the Insular Slaughterhouse and 332,000 euros for the insular potato plan, with the objective, among others, of exporting black potatoes to the Peninsula.
