In the words of Oswaldo Betancort: “We are working on specific assistance to support our farmers in the face of climate change and to protect the primary sector on the island.”
Support for Farmers in Lanzarote
The Cabildo of Lanzarote, through the Department of Agriculture and Livestock led by the president of the Corporation, Oswaldo Betancort, has begun efforts to establish a novel financial assistance programme aimed at alleviating the effects of climate change and adverse weather conditions on local agriculture.
According to Oswaldo Betancort, the Cabildo is “very aware of the challenging situation faced by our farmers due to the impacts of climate change. Lanzarote and La Graciosa rely on a resilient primary sector, which is a fundamental part of our identity and landscape. Therefore, we are currently working to establish this specific aid programme to provide financial support to those who sustain the fields daily, despite adverse weather conditions.”
Targeted Financial Aid Scheme
The institution is designing the technical and legal framework for these aids, intended to compensate for the losses that farmers in Lanzarote and La Graciosa may suffer annually due to heatwaves, inadequate rainfall, and other adverse climatic phenomena.
This situation is particularly evident in this year’s grape harvest, which has been severely affected, as well as in other crops such as watermelon, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and pitaya, whose production has seen a decline in recent weeks. The Island Agricultural Service has received requests from producers who have experienced reduced yields due to adverse climatic conditions.
Future Planning
In order to address this reality, the Cabildo is designing a financial support mechanism that will be available in the next budgetary exercise, as part of the institution’s strategy to ensure the viability of the island’s primary sector.
