The public consultation of “Regadio 20/30”, which surveys the development potential of irrigation Portugal in the next decade, involves “about 50 employees from associations and organizations in the agricultural and environmental sector, from academic institutions, from institutions public administration and civil society,” the Ministry of Agriculture said in a statement.

The public one ended this Friday, January 2, and taxpayers by the Ministry of Agriculture Development and the Empresa de Alqueva worked on (EDA), in order to implement the National Investment Program 20/30, which has millions foreseen 750 million euros. for public and sustainable irrigation, of which 400 million for the construction of new irrigation systems and 350 million for the renovation and modernization of existing irrigation systems.

“It should be noted that the study, prepared by the EDIA Ministry of Agriculture, was carried out with the collaboration of other bodies, namely the General Directorate of Agriculture and Rural Development (DGADR); the Institute for Financing Agriculture and Fisheries (IFAP); as Regional Directorates of Agriculture and Fisheries (DRAP); and Management Authority of the Mainland Rural Development Program (AGPDR2020), having also integrated the participation of the National Federation of Irrigators (FENAREG), of several Beneficiary Associations (AB), of Intermunicipal Communities (CIM) and of several municipalities”, the Ministry points out in a statement.

The same entity adds that “the PAC Strategic Plan [Política Agrícola Comum], to the European Security Commission3 on the last day of efficient and sustainable identification, as an investment priority, continuing the maximum support rate of 100% in December and maintaining 10 million euros in support of national irrigation”.

Recalling that a period of drought such as the current one “requires greater rigor in the management and use of water and concrete measures to mitigate the effects of drought and support the sector”, the Government also mentions that the Minister of Agriculture, Maria do Céu Antunes, already scheduling the European meeting, with the next meeting on the 1st, a meeting of the Permanent Drought Commission.