The Ministry of Agriculture, local political parties and the Farmers and Smallholders Association for the Argos have come up with a Plan B to save the project to modernize irrigation systems and safeguard the 70% EU grant.
The vote against the modernization of the antiquated irrigation canal network which dates back to the Arab occupation has been widely condemned by central government, local politicians and members who voted in favor. The Ministry of Agriculture told a delegation from Calasparra that it was “unthinkable” that the town would reject the EU funding and claimed there “is a queue for the money if Calasparra doesn´t want it.”
At a Press Conference yesterday committee members from the Farmers and Small holders Association announced that members who wanted the new system should officially apply to the Association before August 15.
“Obviously the more people that apply the less the system will cost to teach individual landowner,” a spokesperson told Radio Calasparra.
He added that those who did not apply could continue to use the old system. However, if at some point they wanted to take advantage of the drop irrigation they would have to
pay 100% of the installation to their property. These installations are free of charge for applications before the deadline.
The new system is widely considered the only hope for the future of agriculture in Calasparra as the current system is unreliable, wasteful and inefficient.
Drop irrigation, according to the experts, would put the power into the landowners´ hands permitting them to rent out their land or intensely farm it for profit. Both options are impossible under the current system. However, farmers with small amounts of land have voted against the system which they see as a “mortgage for their grandnhildren.”
There will be another general assembly to explain the new plan and the repayment terms.
According the spokesperson for the Association “there are already people who regret voting against the system and want to change their vote. This is a chance for solidarity and support for the future of agriculture in Calasparra which will create local jobs too.”
