Hundreds of irrigators They have claimed an increase in investment in hydraulic infrastructure such as “shield” to mitigate the effects of storms in Spain and take advantage of rivers floods to prevent droughts. The petition has occurred during the XXIII Technical Day of the National Federation of Irrigation Communities (FENACORE), in Madrid, where the Government has also been asked that the Ministry of Transportation and Sustainable Mobility (Mitma) assumes water powers to expedite investments.
During the meeting, the irrigators have revealed their concern about the growing frequency and intensity of floods and droughts, for which they request new infrastructure that guarantee the resilience of the sector. For this reason, they have pointed out the need for Move the Water Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Map) to the Oscar Puente portfoliodue to the large amount of public works that must be undertaken both to repair the damages suffered and for the construction of new dams.
David Salinas, from the EPG Salinas insurance brokerage, has exhibited “worrying data” on the impact of floods on the agricultural sector in the area of La Vega Baja de Alicante. According to their figures, until the 2019 DANA, «the different claims that we had managed with our irrigation customers They had never affected severely And they were limited mainly to facilities, but in recent years they have reached key infrastructure such as ditches and channels ».
The historical series of the Insurance Compensation Consortium reflects an alarming increase in the processed files: between 1987 and 2017 572,000 were managed, while in the last seven years 519,000 have been recorded. In economic terms, in the first 30 years the compensation added 6,000 million euros and only in the last seven the figure amounts to 4,500 million. The episode of October 29, 2023, alone, generated 6,500 million euros in losses.
The consequences of the Danas go beyond floodssince they also cause damage to rains, winds, tornadoes and electrical problems. In total, these episodes have added losses worth 10 million euros. The most recent Dana swept more than 61,000 hectares and affected 78 municipalities.
Juan Valero de Palmapresident of Fenacore, thanked the map investments to modernize Spanish irrigation or agrarian insurance, as well as specific aids for the rice crops of the albufera, but has underlined the importance of continuing to work on new water infrastructure.
The irrigators remember that, from 1960 to 2000, 182 reservoirs were built on average every decade. However, since in 1996 the General Directorate of Hydraulic Works of the then Ministry of Development became the General Directorate of Water of the Ministry of Environment, a little more than 20 reservoirs are made every decade. Along these lines, they regret that “water and hydraulic works have been losing relevance and budget on the political agenda,” as evidenced by the fact that in recent legislatures their powers have been going through different ministerial portfolios “without real progress has been produced.”
Therefore, they are essential to transfer competences that take advantage of European recovery funds. Fenacore warns that, without investment in hydraulic infrastructure, Spain will not be able to guarantee the water supply nor protect yourself from the effects of climate change. Therefore, they encourage the government to take urgent measures. According to Valero de Palma, «29.2% of hydraulic infrastructures of general interest have not been built, despite having been approved in the different basin plans and having their preceptive reports. If we want to guarantee food supply and production, Mitma should assume water skills in Spain. Water security investments are more necessary than ever ».