“I can only applaud this strategy, which the Government presented, because it represents enormous courage, I would say revolutionary courage, if it is put into practice,” stated Álvaro Mendonça e Moura in an interview, marking the 50th anniversary of the confederation.
On March 9, the Government introduced the Água que Une strategy, which includes nearly 300 measures aimed at efficient water resource management. The strategy, based on the pillars of efficiency, resilience, and intelligence, has a 15-year timeline and aims to add over 1,000 million cubic meters of water for all uses nationwide.
The Água que Une strategy encompasses programs for reducing water losses, reusing treated water, innovating and digitalizing the water cycle, rehabilitating and restoring rivers and streams, strengthening storage, improving the efficiency of hydro-agricultural projects, managing supply to the Sines industrial hub, and ensuring water resilience in Alentejo.
Mendonça e Moura believes that the potential agricultural and forestry growth of the country is “greatly multiplied” if the strategy is implemented, as investments eventually pay for themselves.
“Alqueva is fully paid off, and every year, the State receives 339 million euros in fiscal revenue related to Alqueva. While multiplying ‘Alquevas’ isn’t possible, it can be replicated elsewhere in other dimensions and in various parts of the country,” he noted.
He emphasized that if executed, the strategy will constitute the most important structural reform in recent decades.
The former ambassador highlighted that in Portugal, about 16% of the agricultural area is irrigated, which is below Spain (23%), Extremadura (25%), Andalusia (28%), Catalonia (33%), Murcia (47%), and Valencia (52%).
Besides irrigation, this strategy also targets rainfed areas, so the country’s growth potential largely depends on the “courage” applied in using this water.
CAP emphasized the importance of explaining to the public the advantages of a balanced territory, “which can only be achieved with water.”
Mendonça e Moura also stressed that the Água que Une can only be realized with the involvement of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, although he pointed out the need to look beyond the term of the current executive.
“The obligation of this Government is to set this in motion and execute it because they have a legislative period to do so, then we’ll see,” he concluded.
To celebrate its 50th anniversary, CAP is hosting a congress on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Portugal Pavilion in Lisbon, dedicated to “The evolution of Portuguese agriculture and forestry since 1975, in the context of the country’s socioeconomic and political change.”
The event will bring together, besides members and partners, political officials, business leaders, and sector leaders to also project the future of national agriculture and forestry.
