It highlights the repercussions that it would have on seed, fertilizer, machinery, canning and transport companies, as well as on family income
“A reduction in the availability of irrigation water that affects agricultural production will produce a series of indirect and induced contractionary effects in the economic activity of the Region.” This other warning is made by the Segura Hydrographic Confederation (CHS) in its extensive analysis of the impacts that a cut in the Diversion would have in the terms proposed by the Tagus demarcation, with an increase in ecological flows of up to 43% in the next five years.
The basin organization emphasizes that between 10,432 and 12,228 hectares would be lost, which represents 12.2% of the current area of the Transfer, with a decrease of more than 5,000 direct jobs. The consequences go further, the CHS points out, considering that the economic contribution of irrigation does not stop at these figures: “This agricultural activity has repercussions on other economic activities in the district, such as the consumption of inputs -seeds, fertilizers, phytosanitary products, fuels and lubricants, machinery, production support services, etc.–, the processing industry and the marketing and transport activity, which, together, constitute the so-called indirect effects of agricultural production activity».
It adds other induced effects on the income in the hands of families and, consequently, on the ability to consume goods and services.
The Segura Hydrographic Confederation warns of a rise in the average price of the water mix
In relation to the cost of the water borne by the irrigators of the Transfer, it indicates that these users currently pay a total annual amount of 92.69 million euros for the water consumed from different sources: it is, depending on the area, a mix of the Tajo-Segura and Negratín-Almanzora transfers, from desalination, wells, treated water and concessions from the Segura River, which add up to a volume of 461 hectometres. The CHS reminds that these irrigation systems require a minimum transferable flow of 280 hectometres per year, which in practice is far from being achieved. The average is around 200.
Linear rate
At present, the mix of resources included in the mix of water used in the irrigable surfaces of the Transfer has an average high rate of 0.20 euros per cubic metre. A cut in transfers from the Tagus will increase this cost, by having to use more desalination, with which the average could rise to 0.30 euros.
Although an analysis of average values does not observe “exorbitant increases” in the price of the mixed water that dissuade users from using it, the CHS indicates that many irrigation communities face a final water rate “close to the profitability of the crops that are planted in their application areas. In this sense, he believes that the increase in the rate would have “a selective impact depending on the type of crop planted and the rest of the resources available in the area.”
Alert of the impact of the electricity tariff on desalination, despite the photovoltaic plants
The CHS considers that the forecast of tariffs with a view to the year 2027 presents as its main uncertainty “that associated with the evolution of the electricity market, especially with regard to desalinated water, since the photovoltaic renewable installations provided for in the program have still been carried out. of measures of the plan, still approximately two thirds of the electrical consumption would have to be supplied from the conventional electrical network subject to the real rates of the market at each moment». In this sense, the basin organization is limited in the scope of the three future photovoltaic plants that are planned to be built to reduce the cost of producing desalinated water and thus lower rates.
He points out, on the other hand, that the irrigable areas of the Transfer “are an example of the integrated management of resources of different origin”, which occurs with greater intensity in these areas.
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