FARMERS PROMISE

THE mayor of Elche, Pablo Ruz and the new minister for the Environment and Water, Salome Pradas, met with the irrigators and farmers of the Elche countryside on Friday, July 21, to show their “unwavering commitment to defending water as a means of life, wealth, future and hope.”

This was the first institutional visit for Pradas, the new councillor, following her inauguration. “It is a gesture which this Valencian government has with Elche, and where the agricultural sector is of vital importance,” stated Ruz, who assured that “from this municipal government we believe in the potential, reality and moral duty that the irrigators from Elche have to defend the water sector.

“In Elche, water is not wasted, every last drop that comes to us from traditional irrigation and mainly from the Tagus­Segura is invested,” said Ruz. He highlighted his hopes “placed on this fluid re­ lationship between the city council and the regional government that begins now, and will continue for at least four years.”

Salome Pradas assured the irrigators that “this will be the time in which the dialogue with irrigators and farmers will return.”

In addition, she indicated that there will be a joint meeting between the Min­ istry of Water and Agriculture with irrigators at both provincial and regional level “to reverse this situation of water punishment.

“It is not fair that they go through what they are going through and suffer policy cuts which suffocate and harm the Valencian Community,” she said.

The minister affirmed that “we are going to raise these issues so that the water necessary returns to Elche and that farmers can grow these much­needed products. Water should not be a tool for confrontation, but for prosperity and solutions, and that is our commitment.”

Just before the meeting took place, Pradas was inaugurated as councillor, and signed the book of honour of Elche City Council.