The Spanish National Irrigation Plan - Water and Agriculture: Sustainability, Markets and Policies - page 357

The SEIASAS finance in advance the full cost of the modernisation works but
farmers have to pay 50 per cent at the starting of the works as an amortisation tariff.
The remaining 50 per cent is paid from the 26 th year in 25 instalments.

Current and future figures of the PNR Programmes
At the end of 2004, the situation of the works of the different programmes can be seen
in Tables 7 and 8:

Table 7. Surfaces (31 December 2004)

Surface (ha)

Programmes % Programmed execution

Programmed In execution

Modernisation 1 134 891 1 384 696 122

Zs. into execution 138 361 136 095 98

Social purposes 86 425 35 594 41

Private comms. 18 000 7 296 40

TOTAL 1 377 682 1 563 681 113

Table 8. Investments (31 December 2004)

Total investment (EUR)

Programmes % Programmed execution

Programmed Executed

Modernisation 3 056 591 302 1 504 487 055 49

Zs. into execution 1 136 567 982 341 536 622 30

Social purposes 681 908 331 96 177 192 14

Private comms. 123 808 492 19 768 218 16

Support programme 25 699 278 28 502 612 111

TOTAL 55 024 575 385 1 990 471 699 40

Water saving in irrigation is the result of several actions:

control of the existing supply

reduction of gross demand by reducing water losses in the conveyance networks,
improving efficiency in watering methods, growing less water demanding crops, and

reducing water returns of the irrigation.

The estimated water saving achieved by the modernisation works executed during
2004 amounts to 844 Hm 3 and the expected water saving at the end of the 2008 could be
more than 2 100 Hm 3 . The improvement of water management and water saving will
reduce groundwater abstractions in zones with over- exploited aquifers.
With respect to the social objectives, in the new irrigation zones, more than
25 000 new jobs and 21 500 Units of work are expected. But the tendency for the next
future irrigation policies is to limit new irrigation areas.
Water management in modern irrigation-based farms is conducive to a better control
of the use of inputs like fertilisers and pesticides, so that diffuse pollution can be reduced.
Nevertheless, the PNR has an environmental monitoring programme which, for the
moment, controls the compliance with the environmental impact assessments of the
infrastructure works, and when the modernised irrigation bodies will be working, will
permit knowledge of how the PNR is meeting its objectives.