The Local Committee of Nueva Canarias-Bloque Canarista (NC-bc) in Tías convened a meeting yesterday with various workers from Lanzarote’s primary sector at the Masdache Sociocultural Centre. The aim was to gain direct insight into the needs, concerns, and daily challenges faced by farmers and livestock producers on the island.

During the meeting, NC-bc spokesperson Juan de León Luzardo expressed his positive surprise at the energy, commitment, and eagerness of the sector to work, despite the historical institutional neglect they have suffered. “This is a sector that has been mistreated by political representatives who, time after time, only come for photo opportunities, make the same promises, and then forget about them,” he asserted.

Main Concerns Raised

According to the press release, among the primary demands presented was the scarcity of water supply, particularly the poor quality of reclaimed water received on their farms. The sector expressed significant concern, as this situation jeopardises the viability of future harvests and could lead to substantial economic losses.

For de León, “what the farmers are requesting is clear: we must demand that reclaimed water arrives with sufficient quality so they can work confidently, knowing that the water applied to their crops contributes to quality harvests rather than risking loss due to its poor condition.”

Call for Efficient Water Distribution

Another demand conveyed was the lack of an efficient distribution system for reclaimed water. The sector insists on a genuine commitment to the creation and improvement of irrigation systems that meet the current needs of farmers. They demand that water be supplied to their farms with adequate frequency and pressure to ensure that irrigation is genuinely effective, rather than becoming another hurdle in their daily work. Many producers are currently forced to abandon fertile, productive farms due to the inability to access water.

Political Support and Commitment

The meeting also included the participation of parliamentarian Yoné Caraballo, who pledged to “take all the concerns raised to the relevant institutions.” Caraballo emphasised that “what is being requested is not significant investments but rather basic and urgent actions that could be resolved with a little political commitment.” He also commended “the determination and struggle of the primary sector to sustain an essential activity for food sovereignty and the local economy.”

Overall, NC-bc reaffirms its steadfast commitment to the primary sector and the defence of its rights, and it will continue to be their voice in the face of unfulfilled promises and lack of commitment from both the Government of the Canary Islands and the Lanzarote Island Council.