The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food invests 25.6 million euros to modernize the irrigation systems of the community of the Narrow Swamp of Peñarroya (Ciudad Real). These works affect 7,842 hectares and will benefit 2,000 irrigators in the municipalities of Argamasilla de Alba, Tomelloso and Campo de Criptana.

The Secretary of State for Agriculture and Food, Begoña García, visited the works today and explained that with this performance farmers will notice “a great benefit”, since the modernization of their current irrigation system “will allow them to take advantage of the hydraulic energy available in the reservoir to irrigate and reduce or avoid the need for pumping from the rafts”.

To this end, the underground hydraulic connection from the reservoir will be carried out by means of a new pipeline with sufficient pressure that will reduce pumping and electrical energy consumption by up to 68%. At the same time, the current water losses in the transport through the canals will be avoided.

“All this will mean a reduction in the exploitation costs and an increase in the profitability of the crops in the area that are mainly vine, barley, onion and melon,” García said.

In addition, the project includes the installation of remote control and irrigation automation systems that will increase its efficiency or environmental measures such as the implementation of a water quality control network, the creation of plant structures and others aimed at improving the habitability of fauna.

The action is part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan and is co-financed by Next Generation funds of the European Union. Its public-private nature means that the public contribution will be a maximum of 80% of the cost of eligible expenses, while the communities of irrigators and users subject to the action will contribute the rest.

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