The Mayor of Calasparra, José Vélez, has asked the regional government for assistance for small farmers who cannot afford to install the new drop irrtagtion system here in Calasparra.
The Mayor made the appeal during a meeting with the Head of the regional Department of Water, Agriculture and the Environment, Adela Martínez-Cachá, yesterday, in Valentin.
“The aim of these grants will be to enable small farmers and smallholders to prepare their land to facilitate the new irrigation system,” he said.
While they were in Valentin the delegation also visited the new connections to the system of water treatment which will “satisfy an historic demand” and to which Martínez-Cachá indicated her commitment.
The Mayor also asked for grants to fund the collection of esparto grass on common land. Acording to Vélez this activity has ”social, environmental, cultural and economic returns.”
He also underlined the necessity to start improvement works at the water treatment plant in Merry del Val.
After the visit there was a meeting with the Farmers and Smallholders Association (Comunidad de Regantes del Trasvase Tajo- Segura) of Cieza-Calasparra, during which they demonstrated three “anti hail” canons. The system produces shockwaves and is equipped with radar to combat hail and turn it into rain.
The Association has applied for financial assistance to install 25 more canons which would protect around 30,000 sq metres of agricultural land which includes Calasparra.
