Valdecañas irrigation modernization completed with 9.4 million euro investment

The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has completed modernization works for the Valdecañas Irrigation Plan in the province of Cáceres. The project involved an investment of over 9.4 million euros, co-financed by the European Union’s Next Generation funds as part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.

The infrastructure includes four photovoltaic plants designed to supply energy to pumping equipment in irrigation sectors I, II, III, and V. This solar integration aims to reduce electricity dependency, lower energy costs for farmers, and decrease carbon dioxide emissions. The project benefits 564 farmers cultivating 4,016 hectares across the municipalities of Almaraz, Belvís de Monroy, and Saucedilla.

Executed by the State Mercantile Society of Agricultural Infrastructures (SEIASA), the project also incorporates environmental measures to support biodiversity, such as the creation of vegetation covers, ponds, and drinking troughs for local fauna. Additionally, the government has mobilized more than 59.8 million euros through the national plan for six irrigation modernization projects across Extremadura.