The Ministry of Agriculture of the Government of the Canary Islands has announced subsidies to reduce the costs of extracting water from wells and galleries, desalination and/or production of regenerated water for agricultural irrigation in the archipelago, corresponding to the year 2024.
"Despite the fact that the financial allocation for this aid is eight million euros, the Canary Islands Executive has requested the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of the Government of Spain to comply with the provisions of the REF and increase these funds in order to meet all applications, since the previous call was resolved for an amount of 10.5 million euros," said the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food Sovereignty, Narvay Quintero.
The actions subject to subsidy are those carried out in the period from January 1 to December 31, 2022, and will cover the electricity costs associated with the elevation of water for agricultural irrigation from wells, galleries, or desalination or purification plants, among other expenses included in the call.
Public or private entities that supply water for agricultural irrigation from wells, galleries, seawater desalination facilities and/or regenerated water production may be beneficiaries of this line of aid. This includes, among the possible beneficiaries, Local Entities, Public Law Corporations, public companies or inheritances and Canarian water communities, constituted under Law 12/1990 on Waters of the Canary Islands, and the communities of users provided for in the state water legislation. Likewise, natural or legal persons who produce water for agricultural irrigation may also benefit from this measure.
In the Canary Islands, the scarcity of surface water forces the supply of water to the population and agricultural activity from groundwater captured through galleries and wells, and due to the scarcity of these in the eastern islands and the increase in demand above the availability in the capital islands, the search for alternatives such as desalination or the reuse of treated water. Obtaining and supplying water from these sources entails high energy consumption costs that result in high water prices for agricultural irrigation that are intended to be compensated through these aids.
Those interested in applying for these funds have until May 10, 2024 to submit the required documentation through the electronic headquarters of the regional Executive (https://sede.gobiernodecanarias.org). The full text of the call can be consulted through the following link: https://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/boc/2024/071/009.html
