The Valencian Regional Government has launched a new grant program to promote the efficient use of water in irrigation systems, aimed at boosting water and energy modernization in the agricultural sector. This call for proposals is open to 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 to 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 million , making 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, emphasized that this increase in resources reflects the Valencian Government's commitment to efficient and sustainable irrigation , considered key to guaranteeing the viability of the Valencian agricultural sector. In a scenario of greater water uncertainty, having modernized irrigation systems is seen as almost an essential condition for maintaining the competitiveness of the agricultural sector.
The regional government intends for this financial injection to accelerate the modernization of irrigation infrastructure , enabling irrigation communities to adapt to new environmental and production requirements. 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 solutions , moving from intensive use of resources to more adjusted and controlled irrigation models.
Eligible actions: better managed water and less energy
The new funding program focuses on projects that optimize the use and management of irrigation water and, at the same time, contribute to improving energy efficiency in irrigation facilities. The aim is to address the entire irrigation cycle, from water collection and storage to on-farm distribution.
Among the eligible measures, the implementation of localized irrigation systems , such as drip or micro-sprinkler irrigation, stands out. These systems allow for much more precise adjustment of water to the needs of each crop. This type of solution reduces losses due to evaporation or runoff and helps to make better use of every available liter.
Another important area is the improvement of water and storage infrastructure . This includes increasing reservoir capacity, renewing pipelines, and upgrading ponds and reservoirs to minimize leaks and allow for better water management during periods of scarcity or heavy rainfall. Water infrastructure: investments and challenges
Projects for the reuse of treated wastewater for irrigation are also permitted , provided that health and environmental guarantees are met. These types of initiatives are considered strategic for alleviating pressure on conventional resources, especially in areas where water availability is more limited.
In parallel, the aid programs include support for the incorporation of renewable energy and energy-saving measures in irrigation systems. For example, support will be provided for pumping systems powered by clean energy, equipment upgrades to reduce electricity consumption, and automation systems that allow for adjusting irrigation times and avoiding additional costs. Solar power plants in the countryside
The call for proposals also values ​​initiatives that increase the profitability of farms , promote organic farming , 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
Potential beneficiaries are irrigation communities and other non-profit irrigation entities with their own legal personality. These entities must be legally constituted and have their tax domicile in the Valencian Community.
Furthermore, the irrigable land covered by the funded project must also be located within the territory of the Valencian Community . This condition aims to ensure that public funds directly contribute to improving irrigation systems in the Valencian Community.
The grants will be awarded on a competitive basis . This means they are not distributed automatically; instead, 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 stipulates that applications may be submitted from the day following the official publication of the call for proposals in the Official Gazette of the Valencian Government (DOGV). From that point onward, 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 the greatest transformative capacity , rewarding 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 is reserved for projects specifically aimed at the rational use of irrigation water. On the other hand, the remaining 40% is allocated to initiatives focused on improving energy efficiency in irrigation systems.
In practice, this means that a significant portion of the funds will go towards infrastructure and technologies that reduce water consumption , while the other portion will focus on reducing energy bills, a major concern for many irrigation communities.
The distribution reflects the idea that, while energy conservation is essential, the immediate priority is ensuring the responsible use of available water. Therefore, projects that reduce losses, improve distribution, and reuse water resources are given special consideration within the program.
However, the energy component is not to be overlooked. Pressurized irrigation systems and water management on large agricultural lands often require significant electricity consumption, so introducing improvements in this area, such as distributed solar energy , can make all the difference in the economic viability of many farms.
This combination of efforts in water and energy aims to promote a more balanced and resilient irrigation model , capable of adapting better 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 Valencian government to modernize the region's agricultural sector and align it with the sustainability goals set at the national and European levels. Irrigation remains a key element of 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 renovate obsolete facilities , invest in precision irrigation, improve their storage infrastructure and introduce renewable energy into their pumping stations and distribution networks.
At the same time, the regional government seeks to use this type of financial support to raise awareness about the importance of every drop of water and every 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 face the challenges of drought, international competition, and the new environmental regulations being implemented by the European Union.
Taken together, these subsidies for efficient water use in irrigation represent a significant opportunity to transform Valencian irrigation towards a more modern, water-saving and environmentally friendly model, while reinforcing the position of the agricultural sector as an economic and social engine in many districts of the region.
