The National Federation of Irrigators' Communities (Fenacore) has demanded the implementation of a national plan for water infrastructure to deal with droughts and floods caused by climate change.
In a statement, the organization says that it make this request after learning about the "inaccurate picture of the water situation" of a study approved by a subcommittee of Congress, which dealt with "political proposals on water in the framework of climate change." The problem with it is that irrigators weren't asked for their opinion.
The report defends "cutting resources for irrigation" to reduce water consumption. It considers Spain a "mature" country when it comes to water and advocates "stopping transfers and the construction of new reservoirs." For Fenacore, however, "these are essential to mitigate the effects of climate change."
In his opinion, it is necessary to "launch a new National Hydrological Plan that arises from a State pact and that makes it possible to undertake the various actions needed in different basins, as well as the regulation and modernization of irrigation
Fenacore has also advocated for the creation of an Integrated Water System for both surface (reservoirs) and underground (aquifers) resources; one that takes the different water demands and costs into account.
"The competitiveness of Spanish agriculture is currently affected by its exorbitant production costs," despite the fact that the producer sells "at the same prices as 20 years ago," they said.
Source: agrodiario.com