The Experimental Agricultural Farm of the Cabildo of Lanzarote hosted this Friday the Producers' Meeting, the closing event of the I Conference of San Isidro Labrador, promoted by the Agriculture and Livestock Area of the island institution. An event full of emotion, commitment and hope for the future of the primary sector, which brought together authorities, field professionals, the educational community and citizens.
The president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote and councilor for Agriculture and Livestock, Oswaldo Betancort, inaugurated the event together with the councilor for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food Sovereignty of the Government of the Canary Islands, Narvay Quintero, and representatives of the Parliament of the Canary Islands, headed by the spokesperson for the Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Parliament of the Canary Islands, Rosa Bella Cabrera.
During his speech, Betancort expressed his sincere gratitude to all the people who work at the Experimental Agricultural Farm, whom he defined as "the friendly face of the Cabildo" and responsible for turning this space into "a living place, of learning, of vocation and of the future".
The president stressed the success of the conference, which for the first time opened the doors of the Farm to the educational community, with school visits and training sessions. "It is essential that young people know the real value of agriculture and livestock, not only as decent and sustainable professional opportunities, but as part of our collective identity," he said.
Improvements in irrigation water
During the meeting, Oswaldo Betancort also stressed the importance of guaranteeing access to irrigation water as the basis for a strong, modern and sustainable agricultural sector. "Our farmers have been demanding improvements in irrigation water for decades, so it is vital to create our own production and distribution systems that ensure the supply of this fundamental resource for the present and future of the countryside," said the president.
In this regard, he recalled that a decisive step has already been taken with the signing of the agreement with SEIASA for the modernization of irrigation in Tinajo and Teguise, with an investment of 24.4 million euros. "Our intention now is to extend this same model to other areas of the north and northeast of the island, where it is also a priority to provide agricultural farms with an independent water network for irrigation. Only in this way can we guarantee the competitiveness of our traditional crops and protect the agricultural landscape that gives identity to Lanzarote," he added.
Tribute to generational change
One of the most emotional moments of the meeting was the recognition of the 17 young people who, in the last five years, have consolidated their farms as Priority Agricultural Holdings in Lanzarote. "You are the generational change that we need so much," said Betancort. "You have opted for a way of life that defends our food sovereignty, our landscape, our tradition and culture. You are role models for your generation and for the whole of society."
The president praised the efforts of these young entrepreneurs, "who have believed in a better future" and expressed his commitment to continue working so that more and more people can join the primary sector "with dignity, with training, with institutional support and with pride."
"Lanzarote needs more than ever to diversify its economy, strengthen its identity and guarantee its sustainability. And that will only be possible if the countryside occupies the place it deserves on our political and social agenda," remarked Betancort, who assured that the Cabildo will continue to bet on training, professionalization, research and marketing of the sector, "with facts, with budget and with active policies." The president concluded that "without agriculture there is no landscape. Without livestock there is no territory. And without the countryside there is no identity."
For his part, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food Sovereignty of the Government of the Canary Islands, Narvay Quintero, stressed the importance of attracting young people to the agricultural sector, "not only to guarantee generational change and give continuity to the work of the men and women of the countryside, but also to respond to the demand for new professional profiles required by the sector." In this sense, Quintero pointed out that his department "has complemented with its own resources the European funds destined to aid for the first installation, with the aim of guaranteeing that all young people who have requested access to these funds to start their agricultural company have the necessary support to start the activity."
The event ended with a fraternal enyesque in which local products were offered, accompanied by the music of parrandas, reflecting the cultural and gastronomic richness of the island. These I Conference of San Isidro Labrador have been a pioneering experience in Lanzarote, developed from May 14 to 16, with an educational and participatory program aimed at making visible, strengthening and dignifying the primary sector.
