The Spanish government approved measures on Thursday valued at more than €2 billion to mitigate the impact of a prolonged drought that’s clobbering the country’s agricultural sector.
“Spain is a country used to facing droughts, but climate change means that we must prepare for more frequent and severe periods like the current one,” said Ecological Transition Minister Teresa Ribera. “We need anticipation, structural and emergency measures.”
The new measures come as the country goes into campaign mode ahead of regional and municipal elections on May 28, in which the impact of the drought is set to be a key issue.
A number of other EU countries also are currently bracing for a repeat of last year’s bone-dry summer, or worse, with about a quarter of the Continent’s territory under drought warning or alert.
The vast majority of Spain’s new package, some €1.4 billion, will be used to build new water infrastructure, boost the reuse of urban waste water and reduce water tariffs for farmers.
The decree foresees €784 million in state aid for the agricultural sector. The bulk, €636 million, will be allocated to the livestock, agriculture and beekeeping industry. Beef, sheep and goat farmers who are beneficiaries of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy will be compensated for increased production costs.
Drought now affects 80 percent of the Spanish countryside — up from 60 percent last month — and caused losses across 5 million hectares of rain-fed cereals across the country, farmers’ association COAG said in a report published Thursday.
On average, the country’s water reserves are 50 percent below capacity; in Andalusia and Catalonia, the worst-affected regions, water reserves have fallen to 25 percent of capacity.
Spain also has requested EU emergency funds to help farmers hit by extreme drought.
