The president of the Diputación de Ciudad Real, Miguel Ángel Valverde, participated in the Agriculture, Economy and Culture Forum aimed at transforming the territory, held at the Virgen de las Viñas Cooperative in Tomelloso. The event was organised by EL ESPAÑOL de Castilla-La Mancha and attended by its executive president, Esther Esteban.
During his speech, Valverde highlighted that water scarcity is the primary challenge facing the province and called for a state agreement to support farmers. He noted that, as discussed throughout the day, without agriculture, the province would not be viable. The agricultural sector accounts for 20% of the provincial GDP and serves as the foundation for various other activities, including commerce, hospitality, and advisory services. "Everything is interconnected, and we are not fully aware of the importance of agriculture," he stated.
Valverde reflected on the mechanisation of agriculture in the 1950s and 1960s, which led to the migration of tens of thousands from rural areas. He spoke of a "historical debt" owed to rural communities and asserted that it is possible to live well in these areas, with agriculture as a potential primary source of income.
The provincial president underscored the sector's evolution over recent decades, noting improvements in water efficiency due to technology, mechanisation, and new software applications. However, he cautioned that agricultural income has not kept pace with production costs, insisting that farmers can no longer be expected to bear the burden alone: "The time has come for others to make an effort as well."
Valverde firmly identified water scarcity as the foremost issue: "Without water, we have no agriculture, livestock, or agri-food industry." He added that the province cannot aspire to thrive on anything other than its historical economic foundations, and until this issue is resolved, all other demands take a back seat.
Regarding the Water Framework Directive, he warned of imminent restrictions on water availability starting in 2027 due to basin management plans. He acknowledged that while objections from municipalities, administrations, and farmers are necessary, they alone will not solve the problem and must be favourably considered.
Valverde proposed the establishment of a significant national and regional water agreement, formalised through a commitment letter in which the state, regional government, and hydrographic confederations pledge to recover and sustainably manage water resources. He lamented that the only perceived water conflict in the region seems to be the Tajo-Segura transfer, despite Castilla-La Mancha having seven hydrographic basins, many of which, particularly the Guadiana, face significant issues.
He called for investments in aquifer recharge, water reuse, and retention while respecting ecological flows, as well as inter-territorial resource connections. "I am convinced that there is water for everyone," he asserted, advocating for a consensus plan involving a broad majority of Spain's territories.
Valverde stated that it is up to the European Union and hydrographic confederations to decide on a possible extension of the directive, urging institutions to present a united front. "Let us not send mixed messages, requesting extensions from one place while others do not," he insisted, noting that a lack of unity confuses the primary victims: the province's farmers.
He also emphasised the need to convey to Brussels that agriculture in Spain, Italy, and other Mediterranean countries differs significantly from that in Nordic nations, and that water availability and restrictions should not be uniform. All of this must be accompanied by technology, infrastructure, and investment to tackle the "unquestionable" climate change.
Valverde assured that the Diputación will continue to advocate for solutions and the necessary funding to implement them. He highlighted the wine sector as a key product of provincial agriculture, explaining that it contributes between 5% and 10% of the GDP. He reaffirmed the institution's support for the wine fair held in the province, aiming to maintain its status as the most significant wine event in Spain.
He concluded by stating that, thanks to collaborative efforts with the sector, Ciudad Real is now the leading province in Spain for export revenue. "This is the way forward: unity, but also investment," he remarked, stressing the importance of providing producers with tools and promoting their products. Valverde underscored that the province's culture is intrinsically linked to agriculture and that its future must continue to rely on this activity.
He commended EL ESPAÑOL and the Virgen de las Viñas Cooperative for organising the forum and expressed his hope for its continuation, so that in the coming years, a balance can be struck on how to collectively address a pressing issue.
The forum was also attended by the fifth vice president of the Diputación de Ciudad Real, Patricia Saldaña, provincial deputies Benjamín de Sebastián and Noelia Serrano, and a wide representation of regional institutions and the economic and social fabric.
