CONFAGRI chief calls for integrated national water strategy

Nuno Serra, secretary-general of CONFAGRI, argued that Portugal needs an integrated water strategy that goes beyond building infrastructure, also addressing how water is used and how different sectors interact. He said the strategy should not simply be a list of planned works across the country, but must also define the purpose and management of that water. Serra stressed that water management should be approached across human consumption, agriculture, energy and territorial cohesion, adding that prioritising water means more than prioritising irrigation for farming. His remarks were made at a round table on Portugal's water strategy during the National Irrigation and Drainage Congress.