The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Government of the Canary Islands, Alicia Vanoostende, announced this Monday, on the occasion of an official visit to Lanzarote, the launch of a specific plan for the conservation and maintenance of the Protected Landscape of La Geria, which will be managed by the Island Council. The plan aims to "highlight this unique agricultural space in the world and strengthen it against low production, the fall in the price of grapes and drought".
The Minister announced this action of her department on the occasion of the working day that the regional head and the Deputy Minister of the Primary Sector, Álvaro de la Bárcena, held in Lanzarote, where they were received by the President of the Cabildo, María Dolores Corujo, and the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Ángel Vázquez.
During this visit, Vanoostende highlighted the Canary Islands Government's commitment to improving the island's irrigation network through the Modernization and Improvement of Irrigation project in the northeast of Lanzarote, in the municipalities of Tinajo and Teguise, works of General Interest of the State of more than nine million that "will be fundamental to diversify the economy and guarantee the agricultural activity of the sector".
For her part, the President of the Cabildo, María Dolores Corujo, pointed out that "the time has come to demonstrate with facts the support for island agriculture." "Our development model cannot continue to turn its back on those who generate and protect our most valuable landscapes", she said.
Visit to the School of Fisheries and meeting at the Fishermen's Association
The day began with the visit of the regional head of the area to the Arrecife Maritime Fisheries Training Institute to assess the training work of this center attached to the Ministry that offers intermediate and higher level cycles and regulated education to more than 400 students.
Later, and accompanied by the President of the Cabildo, they toured the Protected Landscape of La Geria and the El Grifo Winery, where Vanoostende stressed its value as an "example of a unique landscape that integrates agriculture and sustainability, with an effort of so many generations that, despite the adverse conditions, have achieved a first-class agriculture with the production of world-class wines".
Finally, the Minister held a meeting at the Arrecife Fishermen's Association with the Tuna Producers Organization to address the current situation of the fishing sector, report on new aid and discuss the current status of tuna quotas, among other issues of interest.
