The Lanzarote Cabildo is working on the establishment of a financial aid scheme aimed at farmers on the island and in La Graciosa to mitigate the effects of climate change in agriculture. The initiative, set to be operational from the next budget cycle, is part of the island’s strategy to support the primary sector.
The announcement was made on Monday, 8th September, by the president of the Cabildo, Oswaldo Betancort, who noted that the Cabildo is aware of the difficulties faced by producers due to insufficient rainfall, high temperatures, and other adverse weather phenomena. These increasingly frequent circumstances have directly impacted the viability of crops, which are crucial for the island’s identity and landscape.
Currently, the Agriculture and Livestock Department is working on the technical and legal definition of these subsidies. The aim is to provide financial support that helps to compensate for annual losses caused by extreme weather conditions. This measure responds to the increasing demands from the sector, which has expressed concerns to the Insular Agricultural Service regarding declining production recorded on various farms.
This year’s wine harvest campaign is one of the most affected, with a significant drop in grape yields. Other crops, such as watermelon, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and dragon fruit, have also suffered reduced production in recent weeks. Farmers have stated that the impact of weather conditions on their harvests makes it difficult to sustain their operations and jeopardises their continuity.
The Cabildo intends for the new aid scheme to become a stable instrument within the policies supporting the primary sector. The institution explained that the plan is to include it in next year’s budget, enabling the processing of applications from those who demonstrate losses resulting from adverse climate phenomena.
