“Agriculture is more than a way of life” was the message echoed by Mutxamel’s mayor, Rafael García, as he opened a round-table discussion on farming within the Municipal Forum 2023. He gathered colleagues from Turkey alongside regional leaders from Aspe, Pinoso, Almoradí, and Vega Baja representatives including María Gómez, to explore pressing rural and agricultural matters.
Conversations centered on drought, rising costs, and the pressures facing rural communities. Participants traced the journey from early harvests of artichokes, tomatoes, grapes, and vine leaves to tables across households, while also examining water’s role and the added value that gastronomy and culture bring to the sector. These themes formed the core of the dialogue, highlighting both challenges and potential opportunities.
María Gómez highlighted the uncertainty hitting Vega Baja due to drought and interruptions in the Tajo-Segura system. She noted that young people face significant barriers to participation as prices rise and water reliability wavers. Antonio Puerto added that when younger generations enter farming and achieve stable income, intergenerational transfers become feasible. Rafael García called for policies and funding that keep the agricultural sector attractive to the new generation.
Catering
The Almoradí mayor expressed concern about the possible need to rely on drought wells in the southern part of the province if shortages persist. The Aspe mayor warned that such a scenario would threaten the region’s renowned products. He pointed to the Júcar-Vinalopó water project, which would deliver 350 cubic hectometers over ten years, ensuring a contribution to table grapes and other crops during that period.
The Puerto delegation criticised local management, noting that agricultural land in their municipality lacks special protection against large-scale solar development.
Recognition
Lázaro Azorín observed that the situation in Pinoso remains hopeful, with time still available for water to arrive, backed by funding and a clear commitment to achieving that goal. He stressed that agriculture deserves recognition and gratitude, and he thanked farming families who have sustained the trade across generations.
The Mutxamel mayor emphasized the importance of the provincial water table and urged a united stance to secure affordable water prices for farming communities. A feeling of shared responsibility underscored the session, with participants noting that solidarity is crucial for rural resilience.
lack of solidarity
The Aspe mayor warned that nationalism can become costly when one community with water fails to share with another. He also pointed out that raw material costs have risen sharply, by four to five times, and called for price controls to shield farmers from wild market swings.
Azorín celebrated rental land banks as a tool for sustaining farming access, while García highlighted efforts to create a green corridor along the Monnegre river and to leverage historic irrigation ditches to support a new tourism niche. Gómez voiced concern about the gradual disappearance of small farms, and Puerto pressed for a National Hydrographic Plan to better coordinate water resources across regions.