Thanks to the sale of irrigation water to the Tajo-Segura Farming Community, the cost of irrigation water per 1118 square metres (a taulla) will be 8.5 euros less next year.
This announcement was made at a press conference called by the local Farmers´ Union (Communidad de Regantes del Argos) to explain the details of the agreement.
According to Antonio Abellán and Miguel Alcázar, Ginés Fernández Álvarez (Technical Director of CR-ARGOS) and Antonio González Maya (Secretary of CRRTTSCCC), accompanied by the President of the Union of Irrigation CR-ARGOS, Ginés Hernández Hervás, a cubic hectometre of water was sold to the Tajo Segura for 200,000 euros in August of this year.
The Tajo Segura was suffering the consequences of the drought and, thanks to the modernisation and transformation of the irrigation systems in Calasparra, there was more than sufficient irrigation water for the local area.
“It is better that the water stays in Calasparra, benefitting the local community and creating wealth, than going down the river,” said Abellán.
He added that the Segura basin was in a state of emergency due to the drought and special measures had to be brought in to combat it. The sale of the water was one of these measures.
The agreement was approved at the AGMs of the two communities.
“The sale of this water has not prejudiced any local farmer, nor has it had any negative effect on any farmer or on the quantity of water in the irrigation ditches.
The agreement is totally legal and transparent and has been supervised by the Water Board.
Despite all this some people want to make a controversy out of this,” said Miguel Alcázar, Presidente of the CR Tajo Segura.
