The drought in Spain is "the most severe in the last fifteen years", with 32.6% of the country in a situation of "prolonged drought", due to high temperatures and lack of rainfall. Estimates suggest that losses in the agricultural sector will be close to 10 billion euros.
“Despite the fact that 75% of the national territory is at risk of desertification, Spain has opted for prioritizing water use for intensive irrigation crops, which consume 80% of the water". It is a "suicidal" water management that also shows the failure of the modernization of irrigation systems initiated in 2005, Mrs. Gil adds. “We need another production model that stops investing in intensification and new irrigated areas and supports rainfed crops as a more sustainable option”
“Irrigation is not to blame”
With some municipalities across Spain already starting water restrictions, the president of the umbrella organization for agricultural irrigation (Fenacore) has made a statement defending his sector. Mr. Andrés del Campo condemned that "the demonization of irrigation" aims to find someone to blame for the drought in order to "evade the responsibility of the public administrations". He stated that "no place in Spain is suffering water restrictions because of irrigated crops", as the legislation clearly establishes the priority of use always for urban supply.
Mr del Campo said that the campaign to discredit irrigation in the eyes of the public was a serious threat to the survival of a sector which is crucial for food production. In his opinion, the criminalization of irrigation in this context marked by droughts will aggravate the food crisis.