There remain one or two farmers who still sow the famous Calasparra rice by hand or “a voleo” as it is known locally.
This morning the regional Head of the Department of Water, Agriculture, Livestock, Fish and the Environment, Antonio Luengo, accompanied the Mayoress of Calasparra, Teresa García, and the President of the Denomination of Origin, José Martínez, with others, to visit the rice fields as the local farmers prepare to sow this year´s crop.
Antonio Luengo was able to see and understand at first hand the problems the problems that face local rice growers.
He underlined that, for the second year running, the regional government was investing 14,000 euros in the installation of pheromones of sexual confusion (screw worms) to protect the seedlings.
He said:”We have not forgotten our last visit when we committed to search for solutions to ensure the viability of these historic cultivations and their quality. This is why we are looking for the most economic formula to improve the cost effectiveness of a unique product such as the Bomba rice and protect the future of the denomination of origin.”
The DO Calasparra, José Martinez, said the line of investigations into increased cost effectiveness and the plagues which affected the quality of the rice were vital to the future of the rice farming in Calasparra.
The Mayoress of Calasparra, Teresa Garcia, thanked the regional representative for his support. “A support which must not end here but continue to manifest in other measures which favour the rice growers,” she said.
Local farmer, Antonio Porch, demonstrated the traditional way to sow the rice “a voleo.”
