The Cabildo of Gran Canaria advocates for the Strategic Plan of the Primary Sector as a key to stop rural abandonment and ensure generational renewal, in the context of World Rural Development Day.
The Department of Primary Sector, Food Sovereignty and Water Security of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria has presented the advances of the Strategic Plan of the Primary Sector, a roadmap aimed at restoring the productive and social prominence of the countryside. On World Rural Development Day, the island institution highlights that agriculture, livestock farming, and fishing are not things of the past, but pillars for a more resilient island.
According to sources from the Cabildo, the plan has succeeded in modernising farms, promoting innovation, and strengthening technical advice to farmers, ranchers, and fishermen. The goal is clear: to produce food, generate employment, and protect the territory from erosion and fires.
Water, the Major Challenge for Gran Canaria's Countryside
One of the most pressing challenges is water scarcity. The expansion of irrigation networks and the use of reclaimed water allow for the recovery of abandoned lands and provide security to those wishing to enter the sector. Without water for irrigation, agriculture is not possible, warn officials from the Department.
Climate change exacerbates the situation, but investments in water infrastructure are yielding results. Each recovered plot prevents erosion and reduces the risk of fires, while extensive livestock farming conserves unique ecosystems.
POSEI, a Key Tool for Food Sovereignty
The Cabildo defends that the Programme of Specific Options for Distance and Insularity (POSEI) is essential to compensate for the structural disadvantages of the Canary Islands. It is not a privilege, but a recognition from the European Union to the outermost regions, they explain.
Insularity, distance, limited agricultural land, and high transport costs create inequalities that can only be corrected with specific policies. Diluting POSEI into general funding mechanisms would weaken the productive capacity of the islands.
Food sovereignty is not an ideological concept; it is a strategic necessity. A territory unable to produce a significant part of the food it consumes becomes more vulnerable to economic, energy, or geopolitical crises.
The Canary Islands largely depend on external sources for their supplies. According to data from the Cabildo, strengthening the primary sector reduces this dependence and protects the population against potential crises.
A Landscape that is Also Heritage
Beyond the numbers, rural development keeps alive a landscape that is part of Gran Canaria's identity. Each vineyard, each livestock farm, and each fishing boat are testimonies of generations that made life on the island possible.
For residents of municipalities like La Aldea de San Nicolás, Tejeda, or Valsequillo, the countryside is not just a means of livelihood but a cultural legacy. A young person who decides to stay in their village to cultivate the land is also choosing to preserve that heritage.
The Cabildo insists that generational renewal is a priority. The aid and training aim to show young people that agriculture and livestock farming are viable and attractive options, far from the image of a declining sector.
Looking to the future, the institution is working on new lines of support for the marketing of local products and the digitalisation of the sector. The goal is for rural development not to be a hope but a consolidated reality.
