The Directorate General for Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development has reviewed the start and progress of works on the Formentera irrigation reservoir project, a key infrastructure aimed at ensuring the long-term viability of the island’s agricultural sector.
The Director General, Fernando Fernández, held a meeting today with the Formentera irrigation community, confirming that the project is already underway. Construction has begun with land levelling works, the development of a settling tank and the processing of the main contracts required for the execution of the project.
During the meeting, Fernández outlined the planned refurbishment of the irrigation network, designed to improve the efficiency of reclaimed water use. The new approach will prioritise supply to plots with higher productive capacity, involving adjustments to the existing network, including the closure of some connections and the opening of others. The aim is to optimise a resource whose quality and availability have significantly improved.
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Agriculture Reviews Progress on the Formentera Irrigation Reservoir Project
The project is being financed through a combination of regional and national funding. A direct grant of €738,931.56 has been approved for the Formentera irrigation community, while the Spanish Ministry, through an agreement with the State Company for Agricultural Infrastructure (SEIASA), is contributing €894,891.47 from European Next Generation funds. The works were commissioned to TRAGSA in August, and the official start of construction was recorded last October.
The meeting also addressed the removal of irrigation hydrants not registered in the Island Agricultural Register (RIA), a decision previously adopted by the irrigation community and now being implemented by the Directorate General. New applications for access to the irrigation network were reviewed and will be assessed for potential relocation. In addition, a training session for local farmers is scheduled for March.
Agricultural authorities reiterated that the reuse of reclaimed water for farming purposes is a top priority, as it strengthens water resilience in the primary sector, improves resource efficiency and helps protect the environment. The Formentera project, the only one of its kind on the island, is regarded as essential for safeguarding agricultural activity in a context of drought, limited conventional water resources and high groundwater salinity.
The initiative will provide a stable and suitable water supply for agricultural use, supporting farm viability and preserving Formentera’s agricultural landscape.