The Regional Government of Andalusia, through the Council of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development, along with the State Society for Agrarian Infrastructures (Seiasa) and various irrigation communities, has signed 11 crucial agreements for the Andalusian Irrigation Modernization Plan (RegadíA). These actions aim to optimize water efficiency, integrate technological innovation, promote energy transition, and strengthen climate adaptation in the face of water scarcity periods.
The Minister of Agriculture, Ramón Fernández-Pacheco, highlighted that this program represents one of the largest investments in Andalusian irrigation in recent years, featuring a collaborative model between the State, the Regional Government, and irrigators that will multiply the impact of every euro invested. The total investment amounts to 138.3 million euros.
This plan will benefit 14,490 irrigators and cover 102,495 hectares. The funding is distributed with 50% contributed by the Regional Government of Andalusia (52.5 million euros), 20% by Seiasa, and the remaining 30% by the irrigation communities.
The Secretary of State for Agriculture and Food, Begoña García, present at the event, emphasized that the modernization of each hectare translates into families who will irrigate better, consume less water and energy, and achieve greater profit margins. She highlighted the importance of collaboration between the ministry, the regional administration, and Seiasa for investments to effectively reach the territory.
The planned actions include the creation of new water regulation and storage infrastructures, the installation of photovoltaic solar plants, the modernization of distribution networks, the implementation of irrigation telecontrol and automation systems, and the expansion of water treatment infrastructures.
The plan will be implemented across six Andalusian provinces through eleven major projects. Four will be located in Córdoba (one shared with Seville), two in Almería, two in Jaén, one in Cádiz, one in Granada, and another in Seville. Specific projects include the expansion of water treatment plants in Almería, photovoltaic energy projects for pumping in Almería, and the improvement of water-energy efficiency in Cádiz.
In Córdoba, projects for photovoltaic solar plants, storage reservoirs, and irrigation network modernization will be developed, including an initiative spanning the provinces of Córdoba and Seville. Other projects focus on Granada, Jaén, and Seville, concentrating on modernizing irrigation infrastructures and systems.
These projects will incorporate advanced technologies to optimize water use, including water and energy efficiency measures, photovoltaic installations to reduce operating costs, storage infrastructures for increased security, and intelligent control and digitalization systems for real-time resource management.
The modernization of irrigation is a strategic priority for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food to enhance the competitiveness of the agricultural sector, improve water use efficiency, and ensure the sustainability of farming operations. To date, the ministry has invested 552.19 million euros in Andalusia, modernizing 196,572 hectares and benefiting 45,590 irrigators.
Minister Fernández-Pacheco reiterated that the RegadíA Plan is part of a broader strategy to strengthen Andalusian irrigation, which includes the upcoming Sustainable Irrigation Law of Andalusia and the Parra Plan, with an investment of 165 million to channel reclaimed water to irrigation communities. Additionally, 12 million euros in aid have been approved for reservoir construction, totaling an unequivocal commitment of over 300 million euros to irrigation.
Fernández-Pacheco expressed gratitude for the commitment of the irrigation communities, calling them an "example of responsibility" for their collective water management and their ability to adapt to difficult circumstances, ensuring their efforts deserve administrative support.
