In the critical importance of water as the foundation for sustainable agriculture, food safety and cohesion of local communities, the Minister of Rural Development and Food said, Costas Tsiarasat the workshop held at the ministry booth, on “Water, Agriculture and Climate Resilience: Dialogue on the Challenges and Infrastructure of the Future”. The workshop was in the context of 89th Thessaloniki International Exhibitionand earlier the inauguration ceremony of the ministry’s stand was held within the TIF.
“Without water, there can be no sustainable agriculture, no dietary competence, no social cohesion,” Mr Tsiaras said, stressing that Greece is ranked 19th worldwide at risk of water deficiency. As he pointed out, agriculture, which absorbs about 85% of total consumption, is the first and most directly affected sector, with serious consequences on both producers’ income and national food competence.
In this context, he presented the five main axes of the government plan to tackle the situation and ensure sustainable water resources management in the primary sector.
These are: Water remains a public good, the creation of sustainable water, irrigation and sewerage companies, with acceptable costs for citizens, holistic planning and central management of all projects, urgent initiatives in the next semester and awitting campaign and awareness and investment campaign.
Over 1,200 projects in progress- iconic PPP works across the country
In his position, the Minister of Rural Development and Food noted that more than 1,200 water management and utilization projects are already underway, of which 237 irrigation and 1,090 water supply projects.
278 projects have been completed since 2019, while 287 land -improvement projects totaling EUR 901.3 million are implemented or planned through the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning.
Referring to important PPP projects, for which contracts have already been signed, he himself has set the following: Modernization of Tauropou irrigation networks – 105.4 million euros, water transfer from Nestos to the Plain of Xanthi – EUR 169.5 million and the EUR 107 million irrigation network.
In addition, as he said, two more projects are in the final phase of signature and these are the Magiotiko Dam of 96.5m euros and the Hochlakia – Ierapetra lake, a budget of € 55.9 million. At the same time, according to the same 33 large landscape projects of € 544.8 million, 21 small projects totaling € 226.2 million and 65 large irrigation projects from previous programs, of € 365.5 million.
‘Smart irrigation’ and cutting -edge technologies
Particular emphasis was placed on the use of “smart irrigation” technologies, including drip systems, humidity sensors, reuse of processed water and desalination with renewable energy sources (RES).
At the same time, he emphasized the importance of dialogue with farmers, regions and local communities, putting Odyssey in Thessaly as an example, as well as the plans in progress in Crete.
Concluding his position, Mr Tsiaras said: “We are proceeding with projects and not words to the creation of holistic irrigation projects, answering one of the biggest problems created by the climate crisis. With vision, plan and consistency, we change the irrigation map of the country, enhance the resilience of agriculture and invest in the most valuable good of life. “
High risk of water scarcity in Greece
Greece is one of the countries with a high risk of water scarcity, the Secretary General of Union Resources and Infrastructure, Argyro Zerva, stressed that agriculture is at the heart of the challenge.
As he said, the climate crisis exacerbates pressure on the country’s water resources, creating the need to upgrade existing infrastructure and implementing new, durable and smart projects.
In this context, Mrs Zerva presented the government’s strategy and stressed that the focus is to attract private investment to adopt innovative practices, public investment through the Rural Development Program (RDP), the Strategic Plan of Common Policy (SS CFS) and the CSS and the CPAs and the CPAs, stakeholders.
The purpose of this policy, as he typically said, is to sustainable access to water, protect the environment and strengthen producers, so as to deal with the challenges of water scarcity and climate change effectively.
The event was given by the Deputy Ministers Christos Kellas and Yiannis Andrianos, the Secretary General of Rural Development and Food, Spyros Protopsaltis, the GG of Rural Policy and International Relations, Antonis Filipis, the Regional Governors of Crete Golidakis, Giorgos Stylios and Christos Triantopoulos, EFET President Antonis Zambellas, IGE head Dionysis Kyriakopoulos and Vice Presidents of ELGO DIMITRA, Nektarios Vidakis and Panagiotis Hatzinikolaou.
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