El Cabildo acelera las obras de modernización del regadío en Fuerteventura

The project is being developed thanks to an agreement between CAAF and Seiasa, providing an irrigation network that will benefit 289 irrigators.

The Cabildo de Fuerteventura continues the works of the modernization and improvement project of irrigation in the central-southern area of Fuerteventura. One of the largest irrigation plans in the Canary Islands, carried out through an agreement between the Consortium for Water Supply to Fuerteventura (CAAF) and the State Mercantile Company of Agrarian Infrastructures S.A. (Seiasa).

The project amounts to more than 13 million euros funded by the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan, with Next Generation European funds. Within this financing, the Cabildo, through CAAF, contributes 26%, over 3.5 million euros with FDCAN funds.

«Promoting agricultural water is an absolute priority for the Cabildo de Fuerteventura. It will allow consolidating and strengthening the primary sector, with specific hydraulic infrastructures planned by the Cabildo for irrigation water,» said the Cabildo President, Lola García, during a visit to the works.

The Water Councilor of the Cabildo, Adargoma Hernández, highlights the progress of works necessary for agricultural water production and increasing cultivated area in Fuerteventura.

The works include the installation of a new specific module for irrigation water production, located at the Gran Tarajal Desalination Station. Additionally, a pumping station will be installed to boost water to a tank in Mazacote and the Tesejerague reservoir, also newly constructed. It is expected that the works will be completed before June 2026.

On the other hand, the Secretary of State for Agriculture and Food, Begoña García, thanked the joint work between the Cabildo, the Government of the Canary Islands, and Seiasa for the benefit of farmers in Fuerteventura and the population in general with the efficient use of water at a crucial moment for climate change.

This new supply network linked to irrigation water will benefit 289 irrigators cultivating 152 hectares. Digitized systems will be implemented for irrigation networks, allowing for a more precise and efficient control of water supply to agricultural farms. The project also includes a photovoltaic plant to generate energy to power the irrigation infrastructure, reducing dependence on conventional energy sources and promoting sustainability.

The works must be complemented with secondary irrigation networks for supply to the primary sector of Fuerteventura, with additional actions to be carried out by the Government of the Canary Islands through the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food Sovereignty. Councilor Narvay Quintero mentioned that, in addition to the mentioned ancillary works, the installation of a new desalination plant will be added, developed from an ITC model with Canarian technology known for its energy efficiency and specific for irrigation water use, totaling 10.8 million euros in funding from the Canarian Government.

During the visit, the insular Councilor for Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, Matías Peña, the Mayor of Tuineje, Candelaria Umpiérrez, the primary sector councilor, Jonathan Peña, the Government’s Subdelegate in Las Palmas, Teresa Mayans, as well as the Director-General of Livestock, Andrés Díaz Matoso, in addition to the President of Seiasa, Francisco Rodríguez, the Tragsa manager, Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, and other authorities such as Senator Paloma Hernández were present.