The Valencian government has launched a new line of aids for efficient water use in irrigation intended to promote water and energy modernization from the countryside. This is a call for proposals aimed at irrigation communities and other irrigation entities that develop improvement projects between 2026 and 2030 in the Valencian Community.
With this initiative, the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, Livestock and Fisheries seeks strengthen sustainability, reduce consumption and lower costs In a context of climate change and resource scarcity, the goal is for irrigated farms to make a qualitative leap towards more efficient systems, both in water use and energy consumption.
A historic investment to modernize Valencian irrigation systems
The call for proposals has a total budget of 9 millones de eurosThis makes it the largest allocation to date for the well-known URA (Rational Use of Water) grants. This figure surpasses both the 8,8 million allocated in 2024 and the 6 million in 2020, 6,8 million in 2021, and 6 million in 2022.
The Minister of Agriculture, Miguel Barrachina, has emphasized that this increase in resources reflects the Consell's commitment to efficient and sustainable irrigationThis is considered key to guaranteeing the viability of the Valencian agricultural sector. In a scenario of greater water uncertainty, having modernized irrigation systems is seen almost as an essential condition for maintaining the competitiveness of the countryside.
The regional government wants this economic injection to act as a lever for accelerate the modernization of irrigation infrastructureThis will help irrigation communities adapt to new environmental and production demands. The aim is for the funded projects to have a lasting impact on both water conservation and reduced energy costs.
In practice, these grants are intended as direct support for those entities that are willing to take a step forward and incorporate more advanced technological and management solutionsmoving from intensive use of resources to more adjusted and controlled irrigation models.
Eligible actions: better managed water and less energy
The new aid program focuses on projects that optimize the use and management of irrigation water and that, at the same time, contribute to improving energy efficiency in the facilities. The intention is to act on the entire irrigation cycle, from collection and storage to distribution on the plot.
Among the eligible actions, the implementation of localized irrigation systemsIrrigation methods such as drip or micro-sprinkler systems allow for much more precise water allocation to meet the needs of each crop. These solutions reduce losses due to evaporation or runoff and help to make better use of every available liter.
Another important line is the improvement of the hydraulic and storage infrastructureThis includes increasing reservoir capacity, renewing pipelines, or upgrading ponds and reservoirs to minimize leaks and allow for better water management during periods of scarcity or concentrated rainfall. Hydraulic infrastructure: investments and challenges
It also accommodates projects of reuse of treated wastewater for irrigationprovided that health and environmental guarantees are met. These types of initiatives are considered strategic for relieving pressure on conventional resources, especially in areas where water availability is more limited.
In parallel, the aid includes the incorporation of renewable energies and energy saving measures in irrigation facilities. Support will be provided, for example, for pumping systems powered by clean energy, improvements to equipment to reduce electricity consumption, and automation that allows for adjusting irrigation times and avoiding additional costs. Solar power plants in the countryside
The call also positively values ​​the actions that increase the profitability of agricultural holdings, promote the ecological agriculture or reduce the overall environmental impact of irrigation. Ultimately, the aim is to achieve a balance between economic, social, and environmental sustainability.
Who can apply for aid and under what conditions
The potential beneficiaries are the irrigation communities and other irrigation entities Non-profit organizations with their own legal personality. These entities must be legally constituted and have their tax domicile in the Valencian Community.
Furthermore, the irrigable area covered by the funded project must also be located in the territorial scope of the Valencian CommunityThis condition aims to ensure that public funds are directly reinvested in improving irrigation systems in the Valencian Community.
The aid will be granted under a system of competitive competitionThis means that they are not distributed automatically, but rather the submitted projects will be evaluated and prioritized based on their technical quality, their impact on water and energy savings, their environmental relevance and their contribution to the modernization of the sector.
The procedure establishes that the Applications may be registered Starting the day after the official publication of the call for proposals in the Official Gazette of the Valencian Government (DOGV). From then on, interested entities must prepare the technical and administrative documentation that demonstrates the viability and merit of their proposals.
This competitive approach seeks to direct available resources towards actions with greater transformative capacity, rewarding those initiatives that achieve a more rational use of irrigation water and a clear decrease in energy consumption in distribution systems.
Budget allocation: water versus energy
The total allocation of 9 million euros is divided into two main sections that define the priorities of the call for proposals. On the one hand, 60% of the budget It is reserved for projects specifically aimed at the rational use of irrigation water. On the other hand, the remaining 40% It is intended for actions aimed at improving energy efficiency in irrigation.
In practice, this means that a significant portion of the funds will go to infrastructures and technologies that reduce water consumptionWhile the other part will focus on reducing the energy bill, one of the major concerns of many irrigation communities.
The distribution reflects the idea that, although energy saving is fundamental, The immediate priority is to ensure responsible water use available. Thus, projects that manage to reduce losses, improve distribution and reuse water resources gain special importance within the program.
However, the energy component is not far behind. Pressurized irrigation systems and water management in large agricultural areas often require significant electricity consumption, so introducing improvements in this area, such as the distributed solar energy, can make a difference in the economic viability of many farms.
This combination of efforts in water and energy aims to promote an irrigation model more balanced and resilient, better able to adapt to price increases, prolonged droughts and new European environmental requirements.
A further step towards competitive and sustainable irrigation
The new URA grant program is part of a broader strategy by the Generalitat to modernize the Valencian agricultural sector and align it with the sustainability goals set at the state and European levels. Irrigation remains a key element for the region's agricultural production, but it needs to adapt quickly to an increasingly demanding environment.
Thanks to these funds, it is expected that numerous irrigation communities will be able to upgrade outdated facilities, invest in precision irrigation, improve their storage infrastructure and allow entry to renewable energy in their pumping stations and distribution networks.
At the same time, the regional government seeks to ensure that this type of financial support serves to raising awareness about the importance of every drop of water and of each kilowatt consumed, promoting a culture of responsible management among irrigation users.
However, the combination of public investment, well-designed projects, and more efficient technologies could represent a significant leap forward for the sector. If irrigation authorities seize this opportunity, the Valencian Community will be better prepared to facing the challenges of drought, international competition and new environmental regulations that are marked by the European Union.
Taken together, these aids for efficient water use in irrigation represent a relevant opportunity to transform Valencian irrigation towards a more modern, economical and environmentally friendly model, while reinforcing the position of the agricultural sector as an economic and social engine in many regions of the area.
