Entities that represent agronomist and agricultural engineers have expressed concern about the new rules of Tajo-Segura transfer, which contemplate a progressive reduction of the transvable flow, and ask for technical dialogue and sustainable investments.
The Official Colleges of Agronomist Engineers of Levante, Murcia and Andalusia, together with the Andalusian Council of Colleges of Agricultural Engineers, the Valencian Council of Agricultural Engineers and the Official College of Agricultural Engineers and Graduates in Agricultural Engineering of the Region of Murcia, have signed a joint statement in which they show their “concern to the modification of the exploitation rules of the exploitation of the exploitation of the exploitation. raised by the Ministry for Ecological Transition ”. These new norms “could seriously affect the viability of one of the main agri -food engines in Spain and Europe: the irrigated agriculture of the southeast peninsular,” they say.
The professionals of the agri -food sector, from a technical and constructive perspective, alert about the possible effects of this measure: loss of direct and indirect employment in the agricultural and industrial sector; significant reduction in the production of fruits and vegetables; greater pressure on local resources and progress of desertification; and possible increasing food and risks for supply.
“The Spanish Southeast – the Region of Murcia, the Valencian Community and Eastern Andalusia – constitutes the call European Huertaand its agriculture depends largely on the water transferred from the Tagus basin. This infrastructure has been key for decades for the economic, territorial and environmental sustainability of the region, ”says the signatory colleges, which support the agricultural sector, cooperatives and irrigation communities, and support the requests made by entities such as the central irrigation union of the Tajo-Segura Aqueduct (SCRATs), which advocate a balanced and fair water management model.
Signatory schools claim investments in infrastructure that improve the efficiency, resilience and water use equity
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“From the commitment to sustainability and rural development”, agronomists and agricultural technical engineers and graduates appeal to an institutional dialogue based on technical criteria and the collaboration between administrations. They also demand investments in infrastructure that improve the efficiency, resilience and equity of water use. “Our commitment is firm: support the development of irrigation, territorial sustainability, food security and the future of our young professionals.”
The proposal of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge of modifying the exploitation rules of the transfer have generated a strong opposition in the regions receiving the transfer: the Valencian Community, the Region of Murcia and Andalusia. Political representatives, agricultural organizations and irrigation communities have expressed concern about the impact that these reductions could have on irrigation agriculture, employment and drinking water supply. Thus, the Association of Producers-Exporters of Fruits and Vegetables of the Region of Murcia (Proexport) warned about the possible “strong destruction of employment” and food shortages.
On the contrary, the Government of Castilla-La Mancha showed its satisfaction with the new rules of exploitation of the transfer because they prioritize the singularities of the Tagus River and respond to a historical demand in the region.
The agriculture councilors of the Region of Murcia, Andalusia and the Valencian Community sued the urgent call for a meeting for the Ecological Transition for this proposal. “The Government of the Region of Murcia will do what is at your fingertips to stop this injustice and this punishment to the region and its irrigators,” said Minister Sara Rubira.
