The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry stated that the water supply system for the agricultural sector opened today in Nordeste will increase the water storage capacity on the island of São Miguel by almost one million litres, providing better working conditions for farmers.
“This is yet another strategic and structuring investment, as we have been doing throughout the Region, which responds to the effective needs of farmers, improves the conditions of access to water for livestock farming, besides reducing production costs and enhancing the competitiveness of farms,” said João Ponte. In this regard, he considered that everything that is done with the aim of helping the sector to face the challenges of the future is of paramount importance.
The government official spoke at the opening of the water supply system in the parish of São Pedro Nordestinho, located within the Agricultural Planning (POA) of Nordeste, an investment of 165 thousand Euros that will benefit more than thirty farms in an area of 350 hectares.
Carried out by the public company IROA, SA, this investment included the construction of three reservoirs and two supply stations and the installation of a water pipeline over an area of 2.7 kilometres.
With this type of public investment, the Regional Government is not only fulfilling its commitment to farmers, but is also contributing to the modernisation of the sector. stated the government official. According to him, the Government has almost doubled the investment in water supply throughout the Region in the current legislative period.
In the case of São Miguel Island, the Government will invest 5.5 million Euros to reinforce water supply in this legislative period, i.e., two and a half times more than in the previous period, being an investment that, according to João Ponte, must continue in the future. In this context, priority interventions are already being identified in order to expand water supply to areas where it is not available and to reinforce the storage capacity, so that we may respond to one major challenge: guarantee water consumption needs during the summer.
João Ponte also pointed out that achieving greater efficiency in water management is another challenge for the future.
“There is already work done in this area, which can and should be improved, namely the installation of water metres by IROA, something that should be regarded as a solution and not as a problem. In fact, they are an aid to farmers for ensuring the availability of water in farms and for contributing to environmental sustainability, through a better management of water resources,” said João Ponte.